Most musical acts would clamor for the steadily growing platform and buzz enjoyed by the five members of The Domino State. After varied publications labeled the band as breakout candidates in both 2008 and 2009, the Londoners opened for Coldplay at the O2 and toured with M83 and Longview. Now they finally release their debut, Uneasy Lies The Crown, this month on Rough Trade.

The question before us is whether or not The Domino State warranted such hype. After early singles like ‘Iron Mask’ paved a certain post-punk way, the 11 songs (and intro track) on Uneasy Lies The Crown pulse forward with a mature, expansive sound that inhabits, but isn’t limited to, the post-punk genre.

That isn’t immediately clear from the outset. As new single ‘We Must Not Shut Ourselves Away’ bursts forth with higher-tinged guitar tones and the upper register of Matt Forder’s vocal in play, lazy comparisons to Interpol and White Lies develop. It isn’t until the next track, ‘This Oubliette,’ that the band’s melodic bent comes through and shaves off the brooding feel previously espoused.

‘Pompeii’ slows things with a starry guitar haze and unexpected harmonies that give way to an arena-ready close. ‘What’s The Question?’ maintains a mid-tempo pleasant feel that resurrects the album midway from the dark, relentless guitar drone and industrial percussion of ‘Big Six Wheel.’ The contrast between the two tracks reveals a band with multiple facets.

Not everything grabs on Uneasy Lies The Crown, but it all works well enough – a solid debut for a band that deserved the early accolades.

Most musical acts would clamor for the steadily growing platform and buzz enjoyed by the five members of The Domino State. After varied publications labeled the band as breakout candidates in both 2008 and 2009, the Londoners opened for Coldplay at the O2 and toured with M83 and Longview. Now they finally release their debut, Uneasy Lies The Crown, this month on Rough Trade.

The question before us is whether or not The Domino State warranted such hype. After early singles like ‘Iron Mask’ paved a certain post-punk way, the 11 songs (and intro track) on Uneasy Lies The Crown pulse forward with a mature, expansive sound that inhabits, but isn’t limited to, the post-punk genre.

That isn’t immediately clear from the outset. As new single ‘We Must Not Shut Ourselves Away’ bursts forth with higher-tinged guitar tones and the upper register of Matt Forder’s vocal in play, lazy comparisons to Interpol and White Lies develop. It isn’t until the next track, ‘This Oubliette,’ that the band’s melodic bent comes through and shaves off the brooding feel previously espoused.

‘Pompeii’ slows things with a starry guitar haze and unexpected harmonies that give way to an arena-ready close. ‘What’s The Question?’ maintains a mid-tempo pleasant feel that resurrects the album midway from the dark, relentless guitar drone and industrial percussion of ‘Big Six Wheel.’ The contrast between the two tracks reveals a band with multiple facets.

Not everything grabs on Uneasy Lies The Crown, but it all works well enough – a solid debut for a band that deserved the early accolades.