ALBUM REVIEW: The Die Is Cast – Moriaty

Devon-born rock duo MORIATY are set to release their second studio album, The Die Is Cast, on the 23rd of this month. The band have said that this album draws from a variety of softer influences as they wanted to have a little more freedom for creativity, and this is clear in their new release. The album is based around the topic of change, in a professional and personal setting, “Deaths, Births, the ending and beginning of relationships, the dramatic changes in technology, and the political landscape of the entire world over just a few years”.

The first track, LOL opens with a nifty guitar opening, merging into a groove which is consistent throughout. The melodic vocals of Jordan West have a classic rock sort of vibe to them which makes the songs sound quite nostalgic. The chorus to this song is definitely not a difficult one to pick up, consisting of the title being repeated, which is simple but the good makes it effective.

The next song, Shake, gifts us some lower tuned guitars and a very catchy drum beat from Matthew Partridge. The verses of this track are very memorable and complimentary to the whole logistics of the song, flowing really well into the chorus. Nearing the end of this song a nice sort of breakdown ensues, and this change up is really great, adding more depth and attitude to the song. 24-7 follows, straight away giving ROYAL BLOOD vibes due to the drop from the first verse into the chorus. The slightly more impactful vocals also add to this reminiscence, making for a really nice hard hitting aspect to the song. The main riff throughout is very notable, really setting the ground works for this effective tune.

Another memorable track, Bills, starts off with some super cool distortion which cleanly transitions into a riff solo. Once again we hear the classic rock sounding vocals from West, which manage to create a real sense of atmosphere that delivers the message of the relatable lyrics with ease. The chorus is reminiscent of MÖTLEY CRÜE almost, which is a nice contrast with the previous songs which had a more modern twist to them. The change of pace halfway through is very interesting, and adds more depth to the song, but it could have flowed slightly better from the slower section. In contrast though, the high speed section nearing the end of the track makes the sound even better, as it is unexpected and really nice.

The album ends with track Netflix. This is a piano based song which was an interesting choice that the band made. By ending the release with a song that is completely different to anything that you have heard previously on the album, it makes for a really apparent contrast. This heartfelt sounding song was definitely unexpected, but was a nice surprise to end on and really rounds up the full experience.

Overall, MORIATY have managed to create an album that combines catchy riffs and beats with nostalgic classic rock sounding vocals, resulting in a release that keeps you guessing until the end.

Rating: 8/10

The Die Is Cast is set for release on October 23rd via self-release.

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