SONG REVIEW: Waiting 4 April - "Dead Inside"
Waiting 4 April channel the old-school emo vibes in “Dead Inside”
Written by JD Walker
It’s amazing how musical trends and tastes tend to be cyclical - the sound of yesterday will surely become the next big thing, and that isn’t really a bad thing as long as it’s executed well. Waiting 4 April executed the beloved emo style of the early 2000’s faithfully and about as well as anyone possibly could in their new single “Dead Inside”. The song features solid songwriting, catchy vocal hooks, and heart-wrenching lyrics that bring the listener back to the MySpace days.
“Dead Inside” begins with an eclectic assortment of delayed guitars following the chord progression of the song before getting right down to business - the opening riff kicks in with fury before chiming lead guitars bridge into the first verse. The section is a bit more subdued than its predecessor as the vocals take center stage before a massive sounding chorus envelopes the listener. As the song progresses, the note choice of the guitars coincides with the vocal melodies perfectly and make the song an easy listen altogether. The bridge features spots of unclean vocals before culminating in one final chorus, the highest energy of the three and an epic finale to the song.
What really makes “Dead Inside” standout is the incredible musicianship of the band. As unbelievable as it sounds, the California-based band is only a duo - consisting of Colton Ray on lead vocals and guitar and Jesse Meiring on drums, the song is brilliantly written and executed on all fronts. Ray’s vocals took the spotlight for most of the song (as they should) and the guitar was written around his vocal melodies in perfect fashion. Meiring stole the show at the end of the song with a flurry of fills and high energy movement around the kit to cap off an incredible display of rhythmic prowess.
“Dead Inside” isn’t just a musician’s show - the lyrics are highly connective and speak to the struggles of mental health battles, general depression, and the hope that’s to be had after a long bout with the illness. In addition to the lyrics, the accompanying video combined performance shots of Ray as well as incredibly dark imagery to further drive home the value of the song’s subject matter. The video was well constructed and entertaining, and many of the practical effects and props utilized came out great in the final product.
Overall, “Dead Inside” serves as a great introduction to show what emo music is all about - simple and classic song structure, catchy melodies, emotional lyrics, and an all around fun experience. As far as alternative rock bands come, Waiting 4 April have faithfully executed a nostalgic sound repurposed for the modern listener and produced a stellar song for the world to hear.