Dingus drops debut album ‘Recess’

Crashing out of Orlando, Florida’s underground scene, newcomers Dingus are here to make some noise and they’re not asking for permission. Formed by vocalist and songwriter Lex Silver and guitarist Mike McNeilly, the duo have been shaking up the alternative rock sphere with a brash and uncompromising sonic vision. Their music is loud, unpredictable and dripping with attitude while maintaining the sort of melodic appeal that keeps listeners hooked.

In September last year, the duo made their explosive entrance with their debut eponymous EP, laying down an emphatic four-track outing that firmly planted them on the map of must watch acts in the alternative rock music world. Now, they’ve returned with Recess, a full-length debut record that takes that early spark and sets it ablaze. Across fifteen raucous tracks, the album captures the band’s gripping sound, delivering an energising and memorable listening experience from start to finish.

The record lunges from surf punk swagger to goth rock gloom, tied together by Lex’s haunting yet melodic vocals and Mike’s razor-edged guitar work. The pair’s chemistry is readily apparent; Lex’s lyricism brims with dark humour and cutting observation, while Mike’s guitar solos slice through the tracks to inject lively bursts of sonic energy. Together, they create a sound that feels at once nostalgic and cutting edge, offering a nod to the greats without being trapped by their shadows.

Already earning deserved comparisons to Nirvana, Billy Idol, Queens of the Stone Age and The Misfits, Dingus are rapidly making a significant impact. Their music doesn’t merely borrow from these influences, it distorts them, bends them and rebuilds them into something that feels entirely their own; the late-80s goth echoes add a theatrical aesthetic, while the gritty, almost metallic riffing injects punk’s anarchic spirit straight into the bloodstream of modern alt rock.

There’s also a certain playfulness running through the chaos and even at their heaviest, Dingus don’t take themselves too seriously. The album’s title alone, Recess, hints at the band’s wry sense of humour and refusal to fit neatly into punk’s more self-serious corners while the song names all call back to childhood games.

Kicked off by titled track “Recess,” the steady patter of drums, pulse of bass, intricate guitar flickers and hazy vocalisations form a psych-inflected jam wrapped up in a brief sixty-second dose. “What’s The Time Mr. Wolf” lands with fuzzy guitar crunch, splashing drums and belted vocals before settling into a moody punk-tinged alternative rock anthem that rolls with charging energy and brooding vibes to deliver a thrilling listening experience.

Tracks like “Ring Around The Rosie” flow with eerie atmosphere and downtempo energy before launching with the driving rattle of punching drums, angular guitar tones and aggressive vocal performance cut with slick lead guitar flashes. “Red Light Green Light” bounces with jittery rock energy, building with smokey instrumental textures, cowbell-dashed drums and expressive vocals that bend from hushed verses to lively, exhilarating choruses.

On “Tic Tac Toe,” the band leans into their goth stylings to craft a dark sonic carnival of gritty guitar stabs and rich vocal layers to cast an absorbing rock soundscape unlike any other. Closing the album with “Tug Of War,” the jumpy groove of bass is met by the tight staccato energy of guitar and drums as Lex’s compelling voice rings out above to serve up an epic finale to the band’s sensational debut album. With new music already in the works and live shows on the horizon, Dingus are set to take their sonic output to a bigger stage and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store next.

Listen to Recess below