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The Fierce and the Dead — Regional Theatre
(Bandcamp no#, 2026, CD / LP / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-09-07

Regional Theatre Cover art

The Fierce and the Dead is a band that has been pursuing a distinctive vision of music during their fifteen or so years of existence. And maybe it’s not even accurate to say “vision,” as there may be more than one vision at work, with the band refusing to adhere to only one. In some ways, they’ve moved beyond their abrasive and noisy start into something more accessible, but they haven’t completely left the noise and dissonance behind as they focus on vocals and melodies. Regional Theatre is a bit of a stylistic patchwork, a bit like what you might get if a 90s band like Soundgarden listened to a lot of King Crimson and owned up to a fondness for Super Furry Animals. But here I am, taking the easy way out by describing one band by comparing them to others that are more widely known. On a descriptive level, you’ve got a five-piece of Kev Feazey (vocals, bass, guitar, synths, programming), Tom Hunt (vocals, synths, effects), Matt Stevens (guitar, synths, effects), Steve Cleaton (guitar, effects), and Stuart Marshall (drums, percussion); Feazey, Stevens, and Marshall were the whole band when they started. Many of the songs feature odd meters, like the 11/8 of “Shake Hands and Exit.” “Hey Nightmare” has the propulsive energy of a 90s alternative metal band. On “Superbia” keyboards dominate, with a very melodic vocal part and an arrangement that hints at modern psychedelic rock. Each track has a distinct take on the band’s sound. On first listen, Regional Theatre seemed confused and disjointed, but it sounds better on each repeat, and isn’t that one of the best things you can say about music?

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): The Fierce and the Dead

More info
http://thefierceandthedead.bandcamp.com/album/regional-theatre

 

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