Words by Molly Inglis.

Kicking down the door to their new era, DICE’s debut record Midnight Zoo, see’s the band explore complex themes, and sonically debut a new mature DICE sound. 

After the band’s debut single back in 2021, there's been no signs of slowing down for the DICE boys out of WA, made up of Ben Hodge, Tom King, Regan Beazley and Sam Barrett-Lennard. 

Playing iconic Aussie Festivals such as Splendour In the Grass, a run of sold-out shows across the country, and even earning themselves a spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100, they truly have put themselves on the map.

The record's title Midnight Zoo, was a name given to Tone City Studios, the location where they recorded the album, in their home town of Perth. It was a place the band escaped to when conflicts and heightened emotions were brought to the surface, resulting in an escapade of musical creativity. 

When I first heard the album title, not gonna lie I was a bit confused about its name and what it meant. 

Coined a Zoo due to the late nights, full moon recordings and nights of wild energy spent by the boys, the name seemed fitting, representing the genre bending exploration of a new sound for DICE. 

Dancing In Darkness is the first track off the album that hits you right in the face with a thrilling build of strings rolling into a rock heavy crescendo. From the get go, this is something we haven't heard from DICE, exploring darker notes in their rock genre. 

It was a track that on first listen, I immediately wanted to listen to again! Its a big statement from DICE, by leaving their strong roots of indie, surf-rock in the background, to dive deeper in their rock sound. 

The outcome of two days locked in the Midnight Zoo, the track Masquerade follows the world's social media obsession and the ups and downs of friendships that come with it. The song can only be described as riveting with its gritty, reverbed bass and glittery guitar and drums. 

It's definitely a track I was not expecting at all from DICE, being described as a “song of many firsts” by the band. 

The next track on the album, Sunrise, tackles the experience of dealing with grief and how in the moment all might seem lost, but there are people who will support you, to get through these hard times. 

Its’ optimistic nature is represented through its lighter guitar composition and use of percussion. I like the concept in this song that even though someone may not be with us anymore they are always looking over us, perhaps represented by the sunrise in the sky.

Ever since this single was released back in June, its catchy chorus and empathic beat has been stuck in my head. This Is Not A Love Song tells the same old story of falling for the fantasy of a person and coming to the realisation it's not all it's cracked up to be. 

It really goes in hard with its intense sound in an almost playful way, but still adheres to a sense of maturity.   

It's become a personal favourite of mine, entering my high rotation after getting to hear it performed live on their last tour. 

Someday is more of a ballad track on the album, taking a slower approach, dropping the gritty guitars for an uplifting string section and a synth track. 

It acts as a personal message from the band on the sacrifices and demands that come with their careers, but in light of the challenges that the future will be better.

It sees the guys express a sense of vulnerability not only in the tracks' themes, but also musically trying styles they haven't explored before. 

Released back in April, Quick to Judge features a stripped-back opening highlighting the mesmerising vocals of the one and only Ben Hodge.

Being described by the band as “the right blend to move from our old music into our new,” it really marked the change to the band's sound, being released as the lead single, giving listeners a taste of what's to come. 

Oh Dreamer and Plead the Fifth both dive back into the classic DICE sound we all know and love; surf-rock with twangy guitar lines and catchy fast-paced drum beats.

A track exploring themes of addiction, and the gut feeling of losing yourself, Midnight Zoo was the first track the band wrote and recorded on the album. 

Not only is it the title track on the album, but it really showcases the best that high quality surf-rock can be. 

It’s like they've taken all the best indie surf-rock tunes of theirs and put it into one hell of a catchy tune!

Storms acts as a book end for the album, juxtaposing its opening track, showing that we can’t stick DICE in just one box when it comes to musical classification 

Proving that even without the guitars we all know and love, DICE is more than just a surf-rock group; they are a band that's not afraid to play around with genre. 

The simplicity of the track proves that DICE’s sound can truly be up to them and that nothing is off limits when it comes to the band exploring what's next in terms of DICE’S sound. 

It very much took me by surprise having this track lie at the very end of the album, but in a way it felt fitting, showing musically how much the band has grown.

Midnight Zoo is an album I know I'm going to have to repeat on 24/7!  It's the perfect mix of upbeat rock track’s and beautiful ballads which will be electric live when the band heads on tour in September. 

The record represents the best of what this band has to offer in a new light I’m sure every DICE fan will get behind. 

DICE’S Midnight Zoo is well and truly open for business!