After a series of well-received EPs and videos, Dead Poet Society decided it was time for a collection that would showcase the band’s distinct style. Their overwhelming, twin-guitar attack and explosive rhythm section make them hard-rock contenders, but there are hints of hip-hop, blues, funk, R ‘n’ B, and lots more bubbling through their arrangements.
“Our drummer, Will Goodroad, has a rather extensive, R ‘n’ B background,” explains Jack Underkofler, the band’s vocalist, lyricist, guitar player, and co-producer. “I think the way he plays is a huge part of our sound. We’ve all been infatuated with old, delta-style blues and the ominous sadness that it evokes. It’s so honest and to-the-point. I think that’s why it captivates us so much.”
There is a brooding air to many of the songs on the L.A. band’s debut album, titled -!-, and out on Spinefarm Records on March 12. Underkofler says they chose the unique title for its enigmatic overtones.
“It represents the album in a visually visceral way, especially when you look at it while listening to the music. It’s sort of a subconscious onomatopoeia. It feels like a sound, and that sound is our music.”
The band’s sprawling approach is produced in large part by the fretless guitars that Underkofler and the band’s second guitarist, Jack Collins, play. They produce a fluid tone that can take the melodies in surprising directions.
“Our guitars open up a new, creative vein to an instrument that can feel a bit archaic,” Underkofler says. “You can’t play them like regular guitars, and that limitation forces you to get creative with how you write. There’s a freedom to write and play to the strengths of that sound. You can tell it’s a guitar, but it also sounds different, in a way that we love.”
The album occupies a vast sonic space, with textured, almost ambient touches, swimming in the background. There are funky rockers like “Future of War,” bluesy tunes driven by Nick Taylor’s unusual bass lines, like “Love You Like That,” and “Haunted,” the quiet acoustic ballad that brings the album to a peaceful close. The band self-produced most of the album, but brought in Alex Newport (Death Cab for Cutie, Bloc Party) to help out on five tracks.
“He’s an awesome guy and fun to work with,” Underkofler says. “He did an amazing job. We all like big sounds. Except for the drums and vocals, we do the recording using direct input for guitars and bass. Then we play around with different tones until we find something that makes us go, ‘Fuck, yeah!’ In college, Jack studied record engineering, and I studied songwriting, but our production skills were honed by just sitting at the computer, trying new things. Sometimes where the arrangement goes next will be very apparent, and sometimes it’s elusive, and it takes a lot of arguing.”
“We’re trying to get better at not overthinking or spending too long on an arrangement, but sometimes, we can spend days on a single line before anything ends up working,” he says. “We all love all styles of music. It matters less to me what the genre is and more how the particular song makes me feel.”
The band finished -!- just before the lockdown and plan to use social media to promote the album until they can start touring again.
“Streaming is crucial these days,” Underkofler concludes. “It’s our biggest platform, and it’s how everyone will consume music for the foreseeable future. It’s the most effective way of getting new ears on your music.”
Pick up a copy here.
