The Callous Daoboys – Who Will Look After The Dogs?
Release Date: 16th May 2025
The Callous Daoboys. A name synonymous with chaos, carnage and confusion. This is an artist that has a blatant disdain and disregard for convention; an artist that keeps you on your toes at all times; and most importantly, an artist that writes some of the most interesting material you will hear this year. This new record I Don’t Want To See You In Heaven is the sonic embodiment of a Picasso painting, and will likely be revered in the same high regard amongst artists for years to come. Vocalist Carson Pace has been quoted saying “I’m not interested in art that goes down easily. I’m trying to make something that I would find challenging”, and that is truly the best statement anyone can give in describing this album.
This is a concept record around the idea of failure remembered hundreds of years into the future, as described in the intro track. Each of these tracks tells its own story through unorthodox song structures, abrasive screeching guitar work and some of the most insane lyricism you will experience on this side of extreme metal. This is exemplified in the first song on the album ‘Schizophrenia Legacy’, and obscene noises from the Dillinger-esque guitar that berates you while vocalist Carson Pace yells “You should know by now that it’s not cool to wear Metalcore t-shirts around your family. It doesn’t make you interesting at all”. Of course, these aspects of the song are wedged between gentle, easy listening sections like the post-chorus as a pleasant, elevator music style drum beat takes over. Even better, this is just a small segment of what the whole album has to offer.
Some of the most notable (and sane) tracks on the album are definitely the singles ‘lemon’ and ‘two headed trout’. These are probably the closest we see the band venture to conventional song writing in Rock or Metal. ‘Lemon’ gained fans through its tender reflection on resentment. It brings the concept of the album back to the forefront lyrically, particularly with the bridge before the final chorus as the words “Your mother saw me waiting tables and she asked if I was doing that “band thing” still. I always finish what I start but I guess it’s been almost a decade of this”. Which, to some, reads as a very honest observation of how difficult things are in music without “blowing up”. It seems to get swept under the rug by a lot of music fans just how long a band will struggle and grind away at their passions just for the one-in-a-million chance for things to work out.
Of course, it would be dishonest to characterise the album from the singles as a song like ‘Idiot Temptation Force’ is a better fit overall with the opening line “ugga ugga boo ugga boo boo ugga”. Quite simply it is insane. The returning chaos and dissonance is comforting and unwelcoming in equal measures amidst visceral screeching and saxophone accompanied pop hooks. There is so much to be said about this album, but what summarises it best is the fact that it is art. It’s not marketing, it’s not radio-friendly, it’s not easily digestible. It makes you examine yourself, your tastes and your ideas around what is good. The point of art is to inspire thought, reflection and feeling. This album has done this like no other so far this year.
FFO – The Dillinger Escape Plan | Frontierer | Greyhaven