7/10

The disbandment of Spring King in late 2018 was a shock to a lot of us. Despite finding huge acclaim with their sophomore album 'A Better Life' literally months beforehand, the group decided to call it a day just as they were beginning to break free from the familiar confines of the modern indie-rock scene. But for frontman Tarek Musa, it was clear that he still had plenty of drive within him, launching his Dead Nature project in early 2019 and delivering a equally thrilling amount of buzz in the process. Now after a few years to find his feet, he drops his eagerly-awaited debut album 'Watch Me Break Apart', a record that reinvents him within a new light.

What most stood out about the Spring King direction was their focus on bold and blistering pace, which made them a far more fun and enjoyable name than most, and this is exactly what we get to experience from the Dead Nature sound. From the very start, 'Watch Me Break Apart' keeps its feet firmly buried in a more driven and energetic aesthetic that instantly looks to grab your ears and move your feet. And while it may not have that special radio-friendly cut to send it into the stratosphere, it does has a fresh and dynamic intention that shows us this will be Musa's new focus for some time to come.

Spring King's vibrant style may be resigned to yesteryear, but Dead Nature is a strong and confident continuation of that original desire to stand out from the crowd. Tarek Musa certainly suits the solo guise and we just have this feeling that he is far from done when it comes to cracking out the big bangers yet.