By Hannah Reid
Dinosaur Pile-Up’s Matt Bigland has been through it in the last few years. Really been through it.
After years of grinding and battling a heady combination of burnout and the kind of money troubles that come with being an unsigned band, Dinosaur Pile-Up used their built-up momentum to release 2019’s ‘Celebrity Mansions’, consequently getting signed to Parlophone. At this point it seemed like they were finally ready to take on the world, with a planned tour of North America supporting the Offspring… and then Covid hit, and their momentum came to a grinding halt.
On top of the stress of constantly pushing the band, relationship issues and the isolation of the pandemic, Matt had been experiencing major health issues for a while. Extensive hospital visits resulted in a misdiagnosis of Crohn’s, later turning out to actually be ulcerative colitis. All the pain and existentialism that come with constant hospital visits led to the singer dealing with the darkest time of his life. He shares his journey with us in updates on his social media, detailing how at one point he had to have parts of his tongue removed… while he was conscious.
The trauma of his illness became the main fuel for Dinosaur Pile-Up’s fifth studio album; with the title being Matt’s go-to phrase whenever people asked how he was doing; “I’ve Felt Better”…
The album kicks us off with ‘Bout To Lose It’. It’s a classic DPU opener; catchy chuggy riffs and roaring group vocals that drip with raw energy. The song quickly devolves into chaos, optimistic chords juxtaposing with a desperate kind of feeling behind the lyrics; “I think I’m on the edge / ‘bout to lose my head”.
Titular track ‘I’ve Felt Better’ pulls no punches, delivering a brutally honest and sarcastic reflection on struggle. It’s a key moment on the album, perfectly capturing the feeling of defiance in the face of adversity.
The album isn’t just full of heavy hitting riffs, with slower songs ‘Punk Kiss’ and ‘Quasimodo Melonheart’ showcasing DPU’s soft underbelly and delivering straight up melodic sincerity.
My personal favourite on the album is ‘Sick of Being Down’; another high-energy dose of pure DPU, this song perfectly blends relentless riffs with its lyrical frustration. It’s an anthem for anyone dealing with immune-related illnesses – the cyclical pattern of sickness and recovery.
‘My Way’ is next, and it delivers a crushing rap-rock banger with a huge, defiant chorus that feels like a powerful statement of self-worth and independence.
The third single, ‘Big Dogs’, is a return to the classic Dinosaur Pile-Up sound. This track is all about fat, groovy riffs and pure fuck-off attitude. Dinosaur Pile-Up – Love’s The Worst (Official Audio)
The album concludes with an anthem for outsiders; ‘I Don’t Love Nothing And Nothing Loves Me.’ With a slow-rolling, ‘Creep’-ish feel, it ends the album on a more introspective note, bringing the journey to a poignant close.
‘I’ve Felt Better’ is a testament to resilience, and pushing through even when it seems like the odds are massively stacked against you. It’s full of absolute ‘bangers, and I’m very excited to be screaming these songs back to them once their tour starts in September.
- ‘I’ve Felt Better’ will be released on Friday (22 August).
- DPU’s ÜK tour kicks off on 5 September:
