What does great chemistry sound like? Bands the world over have been trying to catch that ineffable star power for decades. Sometimes it needs a tweak—a change in location, a different member, a manager who just “gets” it. In the best-case scenario, however, that lightning in a bottle just crashes down and demolishes everyone and everything in its path. That is precisely what DICE have accomplished—and they make it look oh so easy.
There’s simply no question that the Perth-based rock standouts—comprising singer Ben Hodge, lead guitarist Tom King, bassist Regan Beazley and drummer Sam Barrett-Lennard—possess The Gift. Crafting tight, guitar-driven melodies in the energetic vein of Arctic Monkeys, the effortless cool of The Strokes, and the emotional catharsis of classic U2, DICE solidify their whirlwind rise on their no-skips debut album Midnight Zoo.
Dropping four years after playing their first show in 2020, Midnight Zoo is the pinnacle of everything DICE have worked towards as they built a strong local following in Western Australia through their dynamic stage presence, ripping guitar melodies, and ultra-sticky choruses.
Soon after capturing hearts and blowing minds with their first shows, DICE released 2021 singles "Reality," "Wonderland," "Roll The Dice," "Cherry (We Don't Have To Be Alone)," and "Stop Sign," which got picked up by Spotify's New Music Friday, Local Noise, and Fresh Finds playlists. 2022 brought DICE's first EP, Adolescent Arcade, and they followed it up with 2023's Time Will Tell.
Offering a sonic snapshot into the last year of their lives, Midnight Zoo showcases 10 brilliant, danceable tracks that explore DICE’s creative vigor, philosophical curiosities, deeply felt introspection, and knack for killer hooks. Midnight Zoo is also a term of endearment for Perth’s Tone City Studios, where DICE wrote, recorded, and produced their debut. Following their critically beloved debut single “Reality,” sold-out tour dates, and a well-earned spot on triple j's Hottest 100, Midnight Zoo represents a chance for DICE to process their newfound recognition and outline what comes next.
“‘The Midnight Zoo’ is the name we gave Tone City Studios, the location of our creation,” the band says. “It was the place we all went to get away from everything, when we felt sad, when we had a fight, but it was also where our creativity was at its strongest. We called this 'Midnight Zoo' because of its long nights, wild energy and full moon recordings. This title just fit like a glove with both the tracks and its creation.
“We find our love for music through its authenticity. There’s a certain beauty to creating music because it is a culmination of your own emotions, experiences and personality. Midnight Zoo is a window into what our lives have been like and the memories we’ve made during producing the record.”
Midnight Zoo pulls you in immediately on the towering opener “Dancing In Darkness,” which, according to the band, explores themes of courage, unrealized insecurities, and how turning the lights off may birth a new world of confidence. Singles like the breezy “Sunrise,” club-ready “This Is Not A Love Song,” and the mid-tempo rock ballad “Quick To Judge” recall a range of eras, from the Downtown NYC rock revival to British aughts indie.
“Although 'This Is Not A Love Song' does sound like a love song, we assure you it is not—or is it?” DICE joke. “Have you met someone before and just thought, 'Yep, they’re the one' but you ended up feeling like a nervous schoolkid whilst they sat on a pedestal in your mind? This song tells the story of that so-called 'Love.’”
Meanwhile, anyone and everyone will relate to the central conflict on “Quick To Judge.” As the band tells it: “'Quick To Judge' is about going a bit too hard before going out. It started as a couple different song parts which over everything else, which just had this unique feeling. The idea of the song came later—it bounces between these two headspaces: to go out and be optimistic, disregarding others’ opinions, or go back home and have the peace of mind that you’re doing 'sensible' thing.”
Let me be the one to tell you what you already know, guys: sensible is overrated.
On a more serious note, “Sunrise” outlines a universal feeling around loss. “This song was a way of saying that there are ways to get through grief,” the band says. “Organisations, family, friends, and communities are always there to support you. Sunrises can be symbolic of new life, beginnings, or just a new day. We wanted this track to be optimistic, bright, and lively with the message that you can reach the sunrise.”
After every indie-rock boom comes the inevitable call that “the guitar is dead” and “no one cares about rock ‘n roll anymore.” But sure enough, rock always makes a comeback, and DICE are leading the charge. They won’t be Western Australia’s secret for much longer.
