Just a couple of weeks ago Crossfire witnessed Conrad Keely and Jason Reece, the two remaining founding members of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, blow the grotty top off the London Astoria for a final time. Playing stripped down to just one guitar, drums and vocals in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it three song set, the Texan duo effortlessly disgraced every other act to ill-advisedly follow them, as the legendary venue let punters pass through it’s nicotine and sweat stained doors for one last time.
There are those who will argue that Trail of Dead’s last two albums (‘World Apart’ in 2005 and ‘So Divided‘ in 2006) failed to touch on the sheer and unquestioned excellence of 2002’s ‘Source Tags and Codes’. Those people are, in our opinion, absolutely wrong, but regardless the unanimous initial response to the band’s newest offering ‘The Century of Self’ has been cries of a much welcomed return to form. From the regal and foreboding opening stomp of ‘Giants Causeway‘ to the waltzing solace of ‘Insatiable Two’, Trail of Dead’s latest offering is enchanting and captivating, wrought with drama and upliftingly opulent. Gripping from the first moment right to the last, Keely and co have come up with an album that truly proves and qualifies the respect, hype and loyalty they have procured over the past six albums and ten years in being.
Having parted ways with major label Interscope and instead opting to release the new record on tiny german label Superball, Trail of Dead are well and truly back at the helm of their creation. In a climate where music seems increasingly ephemeral, it’s refreshing and relieving to be reminded that truly falling in love with a band, growing up to the soundtrack they create and never for one minute being disappointed by them is still entirely possible… Trail of Dead, we salute you.
Trotty P.