We’re not far off Oli Brown & the Dead Collective undertaking their debut headline tour and in a welcome surprise, they’ve revealed the third and final EP in the trilogy before they furnish us with a full album. Aptly-titled Epilogue isn’t the end of The Dead Collective’s saga but rather the end of the first chapter. It’s a continuation of that which came before it on Prelude and Prologue and brings the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion whilst ensuring it’s not simply re-hashing the format found on those first two EPs.
This comes largely in the form of “Another Day Lost” and its “Solitude Sessions” partner. Our first introduction to the song on this EP is the “Solitude Sessions” rendition which opens proceedings rather than the blood-and-guts plugged-in version which closes the four tracks. Whilst a “Solitude Sessions” closes out the preceding EPs, not only does this make a welcome change, it’s indicative of what Brown is going for on Epilogue. The full version has gritty, growling guitars which run in tandem with bold drums to create a gargantuan groove and it’s here where the band are at their most up-tempo – everything leading up to this parting shot. However, like always, the “Solitude Sessions” allows for a fresh look at the song, atmospheric and breathy soundscapes allow Brown’s vocals to sit front and centre against minimalist percussion and occasional pulses of bass.
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“I Won’t Leave” is the first of the full-blooded numbers but it’s a soft and tender one. There’s a white soul feel to it in its tenderness and vulnerability as Brown’s vocals are barely more than a reassuring and comforting whisper. Bright guitar tones weave their way around softly padding drums and whilst both are simple, it’s not from lack of effort or skill. Indeed, to play something like this an make it effective takes a lot of skill. But there’s still room for the guitars to ramp up and Brown can show us what he’s made of, albeit it’s not as ferocious as other Dead Collective songs.
Elsewhere, there’s finally a recorded version of “Home Sweet Home” included on this release. It was one of the highlights opening for The Answer last year and there appears to be a vocal fanbase for it if comments on social media are anything to go by. Epic in the true sense of the word, it’s wonderfully complex and dripping with emotion without being overwrought. There’s still some bombast to be found on this one but it’s all about that slow build as fuzzy guitars swap with understated ones throughout to continue its slow build to its stunning crescendo and it’s this song which truly embodies the cinematic feel.
Epilogue isn’t all blistering solos and up-tempo numbers. If that’s what you’re after, there’s other Dead Collective material for you to investigate. Instead, the slower pace shows another side of Oli Brown and the intentional build as each number becomes that little bit heavier and bombastic until it hits the finish line allows you to be consumed by it. Whilst Brown has always brought a piece of him to his lyrics, there’s a sensitivity to them here without falling into fragility to match the sombre tone of the music. If you’ve been following The Dead Collective’s exploits before now, this EP is an excellent finale to the trilogy and this, plus the previous two EPs are not only going to make for a stupendous live show, but it also sets an exceptional standard for the album.
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Epilogue is released on 29th March
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