Album Review: Dream On Dreamer - What If I Told You It Doesn't Get Better

When a well-known band releases an album after they announce they’re calling it quits such as Dream On Dreamer, it begs a whole bunch of new questions beyond simply, "Is it any good?" Namely - "Is it a fitting swansong to their career?" The Melbourne heavy rock/metalcore act answer that in no uncertain terms on this, their fifth and final record.

One can only surmise that this band knew the end was coming when they were putting this album together. They’ve thrown just about everything they can think of it at it, with minimal concern as to whether they would ‘alienate’ existing fans. There is certainly plenty of heavy rocking stuff here for their aficionados to get their teeth into, which is the overriding vibe of the record. However, they also touch on pop (Spirit Is Moving), R&B (December), aggro rap/hip hop (the appropriately titled Explicit), ballads (Regrets), industrial electronica and more. It’s like the band members looked at each other and said, "We’re done, let’s just do whatever the hell we like."

With all that being the case, What If I Told You It Doesn’t Get Better takes the listener on an ever-moving, ever-evolving, ever-changing (although never jarring) journey across varied moods, tones, colours and soundscapes. And damn, if it doesn’t just about all work a treat.

This album is a fine farewell indeed and they have an 11 year career to be proud of. Enjoy your retirement guys!