Playing God is a big undertaking for Matt DeAngelis and they're serious about it. From the opening bars, there is proper urgency in the track, with guitars and rhythm section fitting together with purpose, always holding together.
This sound has been developing for years with a stable lineup of musicians who know just what to do with the songs. The tightness and bonding between players is evident in the overall feel of the track, which feels focused and natural.
The verses are full of tension and take their time, but build it up and when the chorus opens, that's the time it pays off. It strikes with good weight and size, big and direct, and stays in your head long after the song has ended.
The most remarkable aspect is the change in the song towards the end. All the building and pushing and they all strip down back into a more reflective close. This shift in mood is more of a gradual progression than a dramatic jump, and it adds a genuine sense of progression to the song as it goes from intense to more relaxed and content.
Lyrically this one has some heft to it without being heavy handed and does it in a manner that is greater than everyday. It poses a true question of control and of where true strength lies, and doesn't spell out the question too clearly, it lets the music carry that question.
Matt DeAngelis really did consider the flow of this one, from the tightness of the verses, that release in the chorus, and the relaxation that comes in the aftermath. It's a song that's designed and full of energy in every transition.
I was finding myself playing this one over and over again every time, discovering something different in the arrangement every time. Playing God is bold, well thought out and well organized. Matt DeAngelis has produced something worthwhile to sit with and really take in.
