polaroids of androids

Album of the year. Those four words are probably the most troublesome of all the holy phrases that can be uttered on 'the internet'. It's also something which, although not safe to utter anytime before August, seems fitting around this time of the year when web boffins are starting to make all sorts of 'best of' lists and clogging up the internet with their feelings towards the music that the year has offered.

Die! Die! Die! have developed into the band that we always wanted them to. The album highlights their natural progression to a fuller and more well-thought out new-age punk sound. Every song is brilliant - instantly distinct and showcasing a band that is making the effort to move forward.

Musically the band have perfected their already explosive sound but at the same time kept every song within arms reach and under control. While their first full length was a fuzzy fury of raw kicks and scratches Promises Promises is a more direct firm punch to the forehead. Andrew Wilson's voice sounds incredibly fresh and every word is delivered with the angst and emotion that it warrants.

This is the closest we have ever come to giving an album a perfect ten rating. Our reluctance is only due to fact we see the Dunedin trio releasing a whole load more material in the future and we need to leave ourselves some room to move. That said, this is hands down the best record you will hear this year. It's delayed release date of early next year for all colonies outside of New Zealand means that we can already pencil it in as the best album of 2008 as well. Yes, it really is that good.