From The Pyre - The Last Dinner Party Review

The past couple of years have been a whirlwind for baroque pop breakthrough The Last Dinner Party. We’ve seen them go from London’s Windmill scene to a Mercury Prize nomination and a Number 1 album with Prelude to Ecstasy. Now, just over a year later, they rise from the flames with From the Pyre, a record that trades divine grandeur for something more grounded and cathartic.

If their debut was the coronation, From the Pyre is the sound of what comes after the crown is placed. The band still lean into their dramatic side, but there is a new sense of grit and self-awareness in their sound. Produced by Markus Dravs, known for his work with Florence and the Machine and Arcade Fire, the album builds on the ornate baroque pop of their debut, expanding it with rich textures and a sharp emotional focus.

The lead single This is the Killer Speaking opens with power and intent. It is theatrical yet unfiltered, driven by pulsing percussion and Abigail Morris’s commanding vocals. The Scythe continues this energy, mixing poetic fatalism and strong rhythm to create a track that encapsulates The Last Dinner Party at their best, a definite highlight on this record. Second Best captures their flair for melodrama and emotional sincerity, while Rifle stands out as one of the record’s most atmospheric moments. The closing track Inferno lives up to its name, finishing the album in a swirl of heat and release, a final burst of grandeur before it fades to ash.

Dravs’s production keeps everything slick and expressive, highlighting the band’s evolving musicianship. The Last Dinner Party expand on the baroque pop world they built on their debut, creating something confident and rich in detail. For a group once accused of being over-polished, this album feels alive and intentional. It may not excel in the same way as Prelude to Ecstasy, but it burns with conviction. From the Pyre proves that The Last Dinner Party have not only survived their own hype, they have reshaped it into something real and unique.

Watch The Last Dinner Party perform The Scythe Live From The Pyre