Chicago post-punk, indie autere's and explorers of all things eccentric,
Dendrons returns with their third full-length album, Indiana, a meticulously shaped record that brilliantly navigates the space between hushed tension and explosive, noisy release. Available via Candlepin Records, the album cements the band's reputation for crafting hypnotic, nervy rock, pushing their sound into more expansive and unpredictable territory.
Recorded alongside longtime collaborator Tony Brant, Indiana is a masterclass in contrast. It pairs angular, razor-sharp guitars and driving motorik grooves with hazy atmospherics and fractured melodies, creating a sound that feels constantly on the verge of beautiful collapse, yet always snaps back into focus.
The opening title track, “Indiana,” immediately sets this tone. It starts with a groove-driven drum sequence and intertwining guitar lines before grungy vocals cut in over an isolated bass. The song builds intensity through harmonies and semi-dissonant textures, perfectly threading delicate, twinkling sounds with bursts of noisy energy.
The six-minute lead single, “Tuck Me Under,” unfolds like a slow storm. It begins with a restrained, almost hushed delivery before fracturing into passages of urgent rhythm and jagged, built instrumentals, reflecting the unsettled mood of the music video, which was filmed by the band driving across Indiana. Closing the album is “Out of My Halo,” which captures Dendrons at their most experimental. What starts with guitar chords and a hint of woodwind quickly escalates into a heavy, bass-driven pulse, featuring a chorus of shifting basslines, dueling guitars, and occasional glockenspiel. The track weaves in spoken-word fragments and background chatter as it crescendos, ultimately collapsing into radio static and high-pitched noise—an abrupt, dramatic finish that leaves the listener in silence.
Restless, immersive, and unafraid to unravel, Indiana is a compelling listen that showcases a band in constant, thrilling evolution.
