Don't Say We Didn't Warn You

iTunes Review

With crackling, snapping synthesizers, thudding bass lines and plenty of ‘tude, the nearly guitarless British band Does It Offend You, Yeah? can whip a crowd into a dancing frenzy as fast as speakers blaring LCD or The Rapture can set a house party ablaze. “We Are the Dead” opens up their sophomore album with a roar, elasticized synth lines and gut-punching (real) drums inducing plenty of whiplash and sweat. Five years into it, the band explores experimentalism with confidence (the noisy, layered “John Hurt,” and the machine mania that is “Yeah!”), and imbue even their singles with enough edge to keep to keep them interesting: “The Monkeys” is all stomp and jungle fever, and “Wondering” is like a riff on the shower scene sounds of Psycho woven into a gnashing bit of rock-rap. Another single, “Pull Out My Insides,” comes closest to bouncy, pop-tinged radio formula, and is appropriately winsome while maintaining a dark, Cure-inspired vibe. Closing with the instrumental punk kick of “Survival of the Thickest,” DIOYY make clear their continued evolution; so far, their growing pains are our pleasure.