“From The Pyre”, The Last Dinner Party’s second studio album, released on Friday, Oct. 17. It is the whimsical successor to the band’s first album from 2024, “Prelude to Ecstasy.”
“From The Pyre” can be defined as a crossover between Florence and the Machine’s witchy music and the Riot Grrrl era of the ‘90s. If you like artists such as Kate Bush and Mitski, this may be the album for you.
The Last Dinner Party is an indie alternative rock band, originally formed in London in 2021. The group consists of five members, all identifying as female or non-binary, including singers Abigail Morris and Lizzie Mayland.
The album consists of 10 songs and plays for a total of 42 minutes.
The band describes their newest album as a collection of stories, telling tales of the supernatural and nature’s forces. The Pyre is explained to be an allegorical place, being both a spot for destruction and regeneration, and is the place in which the tales of the album originate.
The opening song, “Agnus Dei” sets the tone for the album, containing religious references and themes of magic and death.
The following are some of the best few songs on the album. “Count the Ways” is a perfect balance between fairytale vocals and rock instrumentals. “Second Best” comes next and in my opinion is the second-best song on the album. It is definitely the most punk song but still includes the slow transitions that give The Last Dinner Party their dreamy sound.
“From The Pyre” explores darker themes than “Prelude to Ecstasy,” especially with songs such as “This is the Killer Speaking” and “Rifle.”
“Rifle” is my choice for the best song on the record. It is eerie, beautiful and unsettling. It reminds me of Mitski songs, such as “Crack Baby” and “A Burning Hill,” the types of songs that leave you feeling uncomfortable, but you cannot stop listening. “Rifle” stands out as a unique song as it transitions between long, haunting vocals and slower sultry bits.
The second half of the album dives into the supernatural world head on, beginning with “Woman is a Tree.” The beginning of this song sounds like something straight out of a horror film, before jumping into the medieval folk-esque route that the rest of the song takes.
“I Hold Your Anger” is another song full of nature imagery and is followed by the ballad of the album, “Sail Away.” “Sail Away” is a calmer, piano reliant piece, thrown into the mix of ritualistic and haunting songs.
However, we are returned to the realm of magic and violence with “The Scythe.” This is another top song on the album. A scythe is a long blade tool used for cutting crops, but in this song, it seems to be referencing death. The phrase “make it quick” is repeated, a call for suffering to end. Despite the dark matter of this song, it has a similar upbeat tune to the band’s most popular hit, “Nothing Matters.” Looking past the lyrics, it is a song to dance to and scream at the top of your lungs.
Closing the album is “Inferno,” another more upbeat song. With religious references throughout, inferno is defined as a powerful fire that cannot be put out. This symbol is a powerful one to end on for the band, signaling a continuum of the stories on the album and suggesting that they may be touched on in future work.
Rating: 4/5