On the face of it, this evening is one that provides local post-rockers Deer Chicago with some intimidating company. As the three-piece saunter into the already muggy atmosphere of Oxford's O2 Academy, however, a quiet confidence is detectable that quickly confirms their suitability for such a bill. Jonathan Payne's vocals, in particular, possess a strength that easily fights off the chattering of the early arrivals and soars above each number’s epic convergence of tremulous strings and crashing drums.  

 

Having released their brilliant debut album, 'Cannibals With Cutlery' earlier this year, To Kill A King are finally developing a substantial catalogue of songs to tour and, in 'Funeral', today's second number, they exhibit one of the very best things they've yet produced. It's a fact fully acknowledged by the swelling number of listeners: the riff Ian Dudfield lays over the chugging rhythm is a fluid, glittering joy, seizing the attention of any onlookers who may have been tempted to cool off for a while. Before much else has happened, the room becomes a sea of hand-clapping, as the superbly crafted material gets the reception it deserves and front man Ralph Pelleymounter leads the band off, surely, to greater things.  

 

'This is the fifth time we've been in this room', Robert Milton informs the adoring crowd at one point of tonight's headline set, before adding: 'now we've finally sold out'. And it's hard to withhold a sense of satisfaction on their behalf. Dog is Dead have clearly cultivated a besotted fan base along the way, and the affection flows effortlessly from the amassed horde, the average age of which rests firmly in the teens. It's undeniable; to get to this point requires something, and there are glimpses of what that is sprinkled here and there. Frustratingly, though, a sprinkling is all it amounts to. It takes about five songs - almost half an hour - until 'Two Devils' showcases the band's ability to deliver truly roof-raising moments. The inborn euphoria of that chorus floods the room as the five-piece suddenly seem to realise what they have to offer and their every movement becomes charged with a fresh, passionate energy. Indeed, it seems to set off a general uplift in the desire to deliver and from here on, the feel is much less one of going through the motions, more of giving all they can to provide a rousing finale.

 

Not that the audience seem to care. For the most part, each number is greeted with howls of delight and by the time 'Glockenspiel Song's irresistible sax line flows into the hot night air, there's an exuberant anticipation for the closing moments of a gig seemingly guaranteed to send the majority home satisfied. The encore - an impressively conducted off-mic acoustic number, followed by the inevitable 'Teenage Daughter' - confirms it. They'll need to bring a greater consistency from beginning to end in future but, tonight, Dog Is Dead's fifth visit to the O2 can get by comfortably without. Here's to the sixth.