Oli Brown & The Dead Collective announce Prologue, the eagerly awaited follow up to their highly acclaimed debut EP. In a physical only release, the 4 track epic and brutal adventure unveils 12th May on CD and vinyl. A strictly limited edition CD and vinyl of 250 CD and 100 vinyl boasting alternate artwork and an instrumental bonus track is also available – pre-order all versions/bundle here with a digital download link provided to all buyers on release day.
Oli candidly opens up on the new collection of songs:
When I started writing my next collection of songs, I had no idea what would come. My subconscious was about to make me more aware of what was happening in my mental health than my consciousness. I realised these songs would quickly take on a more significant meaning to my life.
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Dark, haunting and with an epic scale cinematic scope, their songs traverse the depths of the human psyche with unflinching truth; this epitomises the music of the band.
Oli clearly isn’t one to shy away from his demons but of a mind to meet them head-on, delving deeper:
After a series of traumatic experiences, which led to extensive therapy, I put the fragmented pieces into these new song lyrics. As I began to rebuild my foundations, for the first time as a singer, I could utilise the synergy between my heart and my voice, connecting the performance, expression, and vulnerability of the lyrics with brutal honesty. This is no longer about performing for the sake of performing; it’s a release of everything bottled in for too long, transformed into a monumental delivery.
“Your Love” brutally pulls on emotions opening with the tale of a failed relationship as Oli explains:
Recognising a toxic human being, doing nothing but breaking down your self-worth, making you feel every bit worse about yourself as they can.
It’s swiftly followed by the spiky riffed emotional limbo of “Everything You Want”, it is as if Soundgarden and Pink Floyd collided into a unified musical space. The heavy swagger of “Father” reveals another side of a personal war with Oli expounding
I was lost in a dark space. I became quite bitter from reaching out to people and not realising I was reaching out in the wrong places. There’s no religious connotation for the song, or family, it’s just reaching out for someone to acknowledge I need pulling out of the black hole.
The EP was written/co-produced once again by Oli and esteemed drummer Wayne Proctor, featuring the talents of Andrew Banfield (piano, percussion), Steve Amadeo and Alex Phillips (bass) and the much in-demand live guitarist with the band Sam Wood providing all of the guitars for the closing track “Sinking Ship”. The sweeping operatic version of the song from the debut EP Prelude has the extolled Jo Quail once again lending her talents after her efforts on “Haunted” with Oli commenting:
We asked Jo to create her own interpretation without any of our influence. She recorded her electric cello, creating loops, soundscapes and beautiful layers as well as her own take on the arrangement. The song is about betrayal, but this version gives a more sorrowful take on it, it brings a fresh heart to the track.
The limited edition CD/Vinyl release exclusively bears the instrumental version, which would not be amiss in a modern day noir film or series…
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Even in the darkest, heaviest moments of the Dead Collective’s songs, there is a sense of hope and redemption, a light that shines through the cracks. Through the gravitas of their epic, anthemic rock, hung heavy in feeling and dramatic soundscapes, the Dead Collective’s music and live performances immerse the listener in an unforgettable experience with Planet Rock proclaiming: “There’s a sense of scale here, a windswept grandeur that elevates every move beyond the ordinary”. Out with the old, in with the dead.
Header image by Drew Ormrod
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