I stumbled upon Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows on YouTube, when their first single dropped. After a bit of digging, I found out that they were an old band making a comeback, and they seemed interesting enough to warrant my attention. In honesty, their name was the most interesting thing that made me decide to lookout for the album, and the lead single didn't catch my eye at first.
If it isn't apparent, I don't know any of their older stuff from back in 2010-2012, so don't expect a comparison, but as a standalone record, it is pretty well made and loveable experience. I didn't expect to fall in love so much with this record, but it grew on me really quickly.
Craig's vocals are really quite unique. The first vocalist it reminded me of was Tilian, with the high range that he goes to pretty frequently, but his comfortable middle range and soul-esque sound sets him apart very distinctly, and I've found myself enjoying his vocal style with little getting used to. It's also a strongly emotive and powerful voice at times, and I admire how he uses it effectively in some of the songs on this record.
The record doesn't have a strong concept, but the soundscape has a very strong identity to it. The instruments don't sound vastly different from song to song even as they explore different styles and moods. Their dark-toned post-hardcore flavour features a lot of anthemic elements and electronic influences, but raw-edged enough to feel violently bold. As a pseudo-self-titled record, I think this collection of tracks does embody "Destroy Rebuild" very well.
The vocal melodies in this album shines the most. I think Craig is a great lyricist and vocalist, able to design addicting hooks and euphoric melodies full of fervent emotion. Many of the tracks see him enter this extremely high, slightly gritty and slightly over-produced vocal territory that perfectly evokes this monumental tone of sentimentality, like the chorus of The Longest Road or the outro of The Arm.
The guitars and drums don't disappoint either, even if they don't take the spotlight much. The intro riff of The Arm is absolutely exhilarating and the breakdown on DESTINY is violent. Throughout the record, all the elements blend together seamlessly, fusing into an amalgam of youthful bliss and emotional turmoil. With a second rendition of the supergroup at play, I think D.R.U.G.S. did a wonderful job lending the best of each member into their sound. I also do love the journey the tracklist takes you through, with the songs in order feeling like the soundtrack to a heartbreak.
All in all, despite not knowing the history behind the name, Destroy Rebuild has been a surprisingly awesome musical find of 2022, and one that I'll enjoy for a while. Their sound manages to be unique even though they're treading common waters, and it definitely stands out to me as a well-crafted piece of musical art.
Rating: 9/10