Photo Credit: Euan Robertson
The much anticipated debut album from Dead Pony, IGNORE THIS, was released earlier this month via LAB/Seeker Records. Following on from the band’s 2022 EP War Boys, the sixteen track record was written, recorded and produced by guitarist Blair Crichton, alongside bandmates Anna Shields (vocals), Liam Adams (drums) and Euan Lyons (drums).
IGNORE THIS gets off to an unusual start with almost a rap intro on the antagonist is ignorance, but we soon get into the nuts and bolts of the album with title track IGNORE THIS, as synth leads on to some great guitar work from Crichton and vocals reminiscent of Wargasm or YONAKA from Shields. It certainly hits the right notes. Next up is MK Nothing, a song we were lucky to hear during their set at TRNSMT in July 2023. The song itself has very thrashy guitars and some distorted lyrics as Shields sings: “I don’t want your drugs/I can stand these thugs/I can’t fight no more/I can’t run no more.” The nu-metal influences towards the end of this track are striking.
AWOL gets off to a good start with Crichton’s excellent guitar work again, but it’s Shields’ commanding, prominent vocals that steal the show here. About Love, on the other hand, has a more laid back punk-pop feel about it, while Myself begins with hints of Nirvana, a nod to the 1990s, before it diverges into a more modern ending. Previously released single COBRA has become a regular in Dead Pony‘s live shows, another one with a pop-punk/rock backdrop as Crichton excels on the fretboard, complimented by a nice tap along drum beat from Lyons. On the next track MANA the Wargasm influence is once again prominent, this one will be good to bop along to in a live setting.
I Might Die shows that Dead Pony have a varied musical range, feeling quite ambient in part’s, while there’s always a decent guitar rhythm going on in the background. RAINBOWS is written about the fact that there are always brighter days ahead, as Shields sings “Rainbows always come/Don’t tell everyone.” X-Rated has some catchy lyrics, “She’s X-rated/Maybe I should take a picture/Kinds want to be her/Maybe I should kiss her,” while White Rabbit is probably the heaviest track on the album, as Crichton’s guitars blend well with the vocals.
The penultimate track on IGNORE THIS, Faces On The Wall, should open up a few mosh pits when played live at the festivals during the summer. Motor City Mad Man concludes the album on a slightly unusual note, but overall this is a great debut and should see Dead Pony building on their success. Finishing up a tour with Kid Kapichi across the UK, Dead Pony have a busy festival season ahead, including appearances at 2000trees, TRNSMT, Y Not Festival, Reading & Leeds and more.
8/10
Standout Tracks: IGNORE THIS, Bad Girlfriend, RAINBOWS
For Fans Of: Wargasm, YONAKA, Nova Twins
Written by: Alan Brown
