Murder By Death: Egg & Dart [Album Review]

Murder By Death
Egg & Dart
Self-Released [2025]

“With Egg & Dart, Murder By Death rides into the sunset on their own terms—elegiac, thunderous, unforgettable.”

Album Overview: While listening to The New Scene podcast, Adam Turla (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards) of Murder By Death says, “I love the idea of going out at our peak. I think there’s something cool about that. The last 10 years have been really strong for our band.” After looking into the band’s most recent Kickstarter, that really seems to be the case. The campaign raised $751,818 by the end—surpassing all of the band’s previous projects and becoming the third-highest-grossing music-related Kickstarter at the time. Not too shabby.

Egg & Dart is the follow-up to 2022’s Spell/Bound and the band’s final album in their 25-year history. Pulling from an article in BrooklynVegan, Turla says, “The title Egg & Dart is a reference to an architectural motif popular since Greek and Roman times, often used in columns and still seen today in furniture, trim, and molding. It represents the duality of life (the egg) and death (the arrow). Once you know about it, you see it everywhere. Seemed fitting for an album of songs about goodbyes. The album is an elegy.” Egg & Dart pulls no punches, as almost every song builds on themes of loss, love, and remembrance.

Musical Style: Turla has always entertained with his Cash-tinged baritone, and Sarah Balliet’s cello is never far behind, adding a classical sophistication. The band is unique for its smoky, gothic country leanings, filtered not just through folk but also through strong, thundering rock. It’s music that pairs well with a glass of straight Kentucky bourbon.

Evolution of Sound: The band has always stayed within the confines of their indie-country stylings, but here the album’s themes drive its evolution. Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon glides in and out of exhilarating rock stompers while also taking quieter moments to tell ghost stories around a campfire. Spell/Bound paints with a broader brush, creating grand soundscapes. With this latest album, the tone turns deeply personal, hammering home a feeling of sullen goodbyes from the wild west. The prairie isn’t always lonely, however—this is what classic Murder By Death sounds like.

Artists with Similar Fire: Though the band may seem pigeonholed into a few genres, their influences are wide-ranging. They draw from the joy and beauty of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, the gritty guitar work of The Raconteurs, and the literary songwriting of Okkervil River. There are even shades of Songs for the Deaf-era Queens of the Stone Age during the album’s more desert-drenched moments. Amigo the Devil’s influence is also present, as is the emotional spirit of Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s The Dust of Retreat.

Pivotal Tracks: Opening track “Searcher” reminds you right away what made the band so endearing, with cello and violin intertwined as the guitar shimmers. “Believe” gives off big Raconteurs vibes with its opening guitar work. “Ick” feels like a Radiohead western, as do “So Long” and its sweeping desert strings that echo “Mosquito Song.” And when I see “Black Velvet Cloak,” I can’t help but think about “Long Black Veil.” The vibes are different, but the ghostly messages of both songs make it a fitting way to end the album—especially since this appears to be their final studio release.

Lyrical Strength: Turla said it’s an elegy, and it also functions as a eulogy. There’s no need to overanalyze—the writing is on the wall.

Final Groove: I can’t remember exactly how I first heard of Murder By Death—maybe a Pitchfork review or something like that—but I can tell you that when I bought the CD at Best Buy (remember buying CDs?), I was hooked. Then I found out their first album was called Like the Exorcist, but More Breakdancing, and I fell even harder. Egg & Dart does exactly what it set out to do. With its intricate mix of instrumentation and mysticism, it cements the band’s legacy. While Murder By Death never achieved the commercial success they deserved, their DIY ethos and rabid grassroots fan base ensured their longevity. Now rest easy, cowboys and cowgirls. Sip your finest bourbon—you’ve earned it.

MURDER BY DEATH REVIEW HISTORY
The Other Shore (2018) / Big Dark Love (2015) / Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon (2012)

MURDER BY DEATH LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp