Review: DMA’s show how they’ve evolved with new album The Glow

: by Joe Sharratt; in Reviews; on 15 July 2020

Aussie three-piece DMA’s have made a name for themselves as a swaggering indie rock band shaped by the heady heights of the Britpop days. Comprised of Thomas O’Dell (lead vocals), Matthew Mason (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Johnny Took (guitar), their first two albums, 2016’s Hills End and For Now in 2018, both cracked the top ten of the album charts in their homeland, and last year they collected the ultimate lad rock accolade of supporting Liam Gallagher on tour.

There’s always been another side to DMA’s though. Their cover of Cher’s Believe has amassed almost ten million views on YouTube, and was number 6 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for 2016, while last year’s MTV Unplugged: Live album revealed acoustic arrangements of their back catalogue that moved away from their more raucous roots.

So where does new album The Glow find DMA’s?

Well, album opener Never Before is a pulsating Stone Roses soundalike up there with their best, while The Glow introduces an electronic element that permeates the record. It’s a welcome addition to DMA’s sound, and works particularly well on Life is a Game of Changing, a thumping dancefloor filler reminiscent of the Chemical Brothers, and the softer, trippier Cobracaine, which closes the album.

Lyrically the band have grown with this record too. There’s plenty of introspection to counter the swagger, most notably on Criminals and Strangers, both moody, brooding tracks, while Learning Alive is a gorgeous piano and acoustic guitar balled that has O’Dell reflecting “Never been so scared to be open”.

And that’s what The Glow feels like – DMA’s opening up themselves and offering us more of what makes them tick.

Writing on their official Facebook page, the band seemed to confirm that as they said: “To our amazing fans, who we love very much, we hope this album finds you well. We just want to say thank you for the support over the last few years. We are very proud of this record and we hope it connects with you as much as it does with us. music can help us deal with all different kinds of stuff life throws at us. This album is now yours and we hope it gives you some light.”

Buy or stream The Glow through DMA’s official website.

The Glow track list:

1. Never Before

2. The Glow

3. Silver

4. Life is a Game of Changing

5. Criminals

6. Strangers

7. Learning Alive

8. Hello Girlfriend

9. Appointment

10. Round & Around