Dry Socket are back, and they're not here to offer condolences. Their latest full-length LP, "Sorry for Your Loss," is a relentless 15-minute hardcore assault that doesn't just hit hard; it obliterates everything in its path.
This isn't Dry Socket's first rodeo; following up on their 2020 "Shiver" EP and the 2022 "Cessation" EP, "Sorry for Your Loss" marks their debut full-length album. Dropped on January 26, 2024, via To Live A Lie Records, this album is a raw outpouring of grief and anger, a sonic reckoning that leaves no room for subtlety.
Featuring Dani Allen on vocals, Drew Clegg and Geoff Hohn on guitars, Anthony Manella on bass, and Curtis Ide on drums, "Sorry for Your Loss" was not just recorded; it was birthed into existence. Crafted under the skilled hands of Nicholas Decker (recording and mixing) and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, this album is a finely tuned weapon.
Spilling the beans on the album's emotional core, vocalist Dani Allen had this to say: "This album is about grief. Grief for losing people, losing yourself. Grief for the world." The rage and frustration that accompany grief are palpable in every scream and riff, recorded during moments of vulnerability – in the car after work or during sleepless nights.
From the blistering opener "Home" to the frantic closer "Born Again," each of the ten tracks in "Sorry for Your Loss" hits hard and fast. Clocking in at just 15 minutes, Dry Socket doesn't waste a second. Lyric highlights cut deep, offering snapshots of personal struggle and societal despair.
Dry Socket's catharsis is a violent, powerful, and loud affair. "Sorry for Your Loss" is more than an album; it's a declaration, a grinder attacking the cracks in life's sidewalk. It's a reminder that scraped knees, whether self-inflicted or the result of external forces, are part of the journey.
Production-wise, "Sorry for your Loss" is bold without being overly polished. Dry Socket's musicianship shines through without unnecessary flash. They let the songs speak for themselves, capturing the essence of a raw, unfiltered experience.
As they venture beyond the hardcore path, particularly evident in the experimental soundscape of "Equinox," Dry Socket is poised for growth. "Sorry for Your Loss" is a testament to their potential to push genre boundaries, standing both within and apart from the hardcore realm. I can't wait to see where this takes them.