Has it really been 8 years since consistently underrated post-hardcore band Dream On, Dreamer released their sophomore EP Hope? Indeed it has. Amidst a sea of great and important 2010 releases in the genre, Hope immediately established the band as possible megastars in Australia and beyond, and while their next 4 full-lengths (Loveless was particularly good) expanded on the core sound established here, I personally regard Hope as one of the more influential post-hardcore EP’s of the last decade.
For a sophomore EP the songwriting, while staying fairly conventional genre-wise, is shockingly developed for a band who was really young upon its release. Tracks like the breakout hit “Ambitions” and underrated track “In August” show the band’s proclivity for electronic-influenced compositions, and the latter is a slow-burning style of post-hardcore that most bands simply aren’t too great at. Seriously, listen to “In August” and then the very popular single “Don’t Lose Your Heart” back to back – the similarities are astounding.
Even if it was released today, Hope would be pretty well-received, but in 2010 this was very influential Piano usage without being cheesy? Check. A willingness to branch out of a crowded post-hardcore genre? Yeah. A foreshadowing of really good future material? Of course. Hope certainly isn’t perfect, and it is a bit short, but it’s an EP that is certainly worth your time for sure.
