REVIEW: Dalton Deschain & The Traveling Show – ‘Bodies For The Geek Pit, Pt. 1’

Over this past decade, New York’s self-proclaimed “pulp-punk” band Dalton Deschain & The Traveling Show have carved out a distinctive niche for themselves. Adopting this eccentric storytelling approach to their songwriting and combining it with infectious, guitar-driven production throughout, the group have established themselves as one of the more interesting and innovative names doing the rounds right now. And after rekindling that initial buzz with their much-loved comeback single ‘Hell Breaks Loose’ earlier this year, they are now back to their best once again with their stellar new EP ‘Bodies For The Geek Pit, Pt. 1’, a collection refines more of that unpredictable nature of theirs.

Acting as a precursor to what we can expect from their next studio album, ‘Bodies For The Geek Pit, Pt. 1’ makes for an incredibly immersive and fascinating listen. Continuing more of that bright and lively rock-opera-inspired appeal they are known for, this new four-track sees them adopt a far more dynamic and diverse direction as it plays. Described as “Fall Out Boy filtered through the minor-key playfulness of a Danny Elfman film score”, their latest endeavour sees them returning to the fold with some of their more enthralling material yet.

It has certainly been an impactful few years for them recently, but ‘Bodies For The Geek Pit, Pt. 1’ feels like another bold step forward within their musical evolution to date. Brimming with such vibrancy and fanfare as often as possible, this new LP of theirs will certainly be one to check out when it finally arrives.