First off I have to say that the press release for Swindon band The Dead Lay Waiting is impressive, they have certainly put the effort into a glossy booklet which contains a message from the band, photos and their plan for 2008. 

In the booklet the band state two of their influences as Killswitch Engage and Bring Me The Horizon, and with the opening song on this three track EP, ‘I Hate My Girl’, those influences can certainly be heard, perhaps more Killswitch than BMTH and the guitar sound occasionally gets very close to their heroes, think Alive Or Just Breathing, although that's certainly not a bad thing.  Vocally they stick with the growls rather than the rough/clean/rough formula, although the occasional cleaner backing vocals do make an appearance. 

‘Last Stand’, changes focus a bit and adds more of an older death metal sound.  It still keeps the feel of ‘I Hate My Girl’, but has more of a slower crunching guitar riff to it.  If the band want longevity then it is songs like this that will help as it demonstrates that they have more depth than just the “scene” sound and image.  Despite it’s name ‘Burtle The Turtle’ is not a song that appears on any children’s TV shows, instead The Dead Lay Waiting show once more that despite their youth, and the band having only been around since June 2007, they can write some decent head nodding tunes. 

The band have an obvious talent, and without sounding too cliché, on the strength of these songs the band certainly have the credentials to go onto bigger things.  Let’s hope that their plan for growth and exposure sees fruition.  If they get to play Bloodstock as competition winners, as they are hoping to, it would certainly help.

Contact:  www.myspace.com/thedeadlaywaiting 

Darren Brushneen