EP REVIEW: The Curtained Sleep – The Fangs of the Dodo

Considering the worldwide appeal of the Marvel and DC Universes – along with the continuing success of graphic novels – it’s surprising that there aren’t more bands out there that have taken a leaf out of their action-packed books and used it for themselves. Bath’s THE FANGS OF THE DODO, however, are one such outfit. Friday sees the release of their new EP, The Curtained Sleep, a new chapter in their colourful career which has recently seen airplay on both Planet Rock and Kerrang! radio.

The song in question which has received this exposure is opening track Crime of the Century, which has been applauded from all corners and with good reason. Opening with a military drum beat, it boasts a wicked goth-rock stomp and clean, crisp production, whilst the vocal duo of bassist Count Dodo and keyboardist Cinder trade off each other exceptionally well. It’s succeeded by Safe, a song that brings the pace down and emits serious vibes of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and THE USED, with a melancholic dose of HIM thrown in for good measure. For all its darkness, it’s very accessible and once again showcases the brilliant production that continues throughout. It segues perfectly into Hung By a Thread, the latest single. Like Crime of the Century it’s bold, bouncy and full of fun, and Cinder‘s vocals are now at the forefront of the band, her velvet tones adding a sultry appeal to proceedings and enveloping the listener with a warm embrace.

As The Curtained Sleep moves into its second half, Home? is easily Count Dodo‘s best vocal performance on the record, possibly even to date. A soaring chorus – complimented by an excellent guitar exchange from The Guardsman and The Prisoner and a lovely sequence of drum fills by Hazard – help stake the track’s claim for the best on the record, and one that will delight fans of CREEPER with ease. The final track is The Cause, which has a lovely 80’s throwback from Cinder‘s synth keyboards and blends it well with driving rock straight from the present a la THEM CROOKED VULTURES. It’s a great ending to the 23 minute experience, and one will waste no time in sticking it straight back on to listen through again.

It’s very clear to see that THE FANGS OF THE DODO have an exciting future ahead of them. The Curtained Sleep will help propel that even further and, with a limited release of special comic books to go alongside the EP, are preparing to weave one of the most unique and intricate stories that the rock world has ever experienced. Excelsior!

Rating: 8/10

The Curtained Sleep is set for release on April 3rd via self-release.

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