After the commercially successful release of his 2022 album The Hardest Love, Australian star Dean Lewis is back with a fresh new album titled The Epilogue to the delight of his audience. Compiled of 12 tracks, Lewis once again brings his trademark emotion and clever songwriting to the fore. Kicking off his The Epilogue World Tour in Brisbane on 31 October, this drop has so far been received well.
The Epilogue is, undeniably, a clever title for this LP. Classically symbolising the ending of a narrative, Lewis called it both ‘the ending of the last few years’ of his life and the ‘beginning of the next.’ After listening to the entirety of the album, it’s clear that this may in fact symbolise the beginning of a new era for this Aussie star.
The album opens with ‘Empire,’ an ode to a friendship deteriorating. Lewis circles back on the universal theme of heartbreak across the album, and this song is no exception. Crafting strong imagery in the lyrics, including comparing this past relationship to ‘blue fire’, the music evokes the idea of someone walking away to better themselves alone. The backing instrumentals are fast-paced from the introduction of the pre-chorus onwards, which adds a dose of excitement, but it does emphasise that Lewis may be sticking to the familiar.
Lewis contemplates his past mistakes in the second track, titled ‘All I Ever Wanted.’ The song was inspired by a period in his life when he had to decide between pursuing a serious relationship or his budding career – but by the time he realised the correct choice, it was already too late. Opening with gentle guitar and combined with raw, emotional vocals, the song starts slowly before building to a peak in the chorus before fading again to the style present in the soft opening. It’s cathartic and emotional, meaning many listeners will undoubtedly relate to this vulnerable journey.
‘Rest’ has been recently described by Lewis as ‘the first love song he’s ever written.’ A collaboration with Sasha Alex Sloan, this track marks a new direction for the star, whose past work often lies in the emotionally charged songs exemplified through most of The Epilogue. ‘Rest’ is comparatively slow and heartwarming, and since its release earlier this year, fans have already declared this as a possible wedding song for their playlists. The track is accompanied by a stripped-back music video, adding to its overflowing authenticity.
‘All Your Lies’ is one of the angrier tracks on the album, which is unsurprising considering its title. Lewis asks if the subject really ‘wants to sell their soul’ tonight as they go ahead to ‘chase the flashing lights.’ It’s clear that the song’s main character is over the manipulation being presented to them, and against a sorrowful backing sound, ‘All Your Lies’ is both heartbreaking and powerful. Next is ‘I Still Do’ – in which Lewis pines after someone he is still in love with (as per the title). Instrumentally, it follows the same thread as many of the songs on The Epilogue, not providing much that’s revolutionary or new to the listener. Fans of Lewis have however fallen in love with him for his signature sound, making it likely to be a track people warm to regardless.
‘Memories’, released earlier this year in Feb; once again charts the end of a relationship, but this one is more upbeat. With the chorus’ main sentiment being ‘thank you for all the memories’ on repeat, it’s clear that while there might be regret, whatever happened was still a valuable experience. Accompanied by slow, reverberating piano throughout, this is another track that applies to any relationship. Lewis was inspired by the breakdown of his relationship with his best friend of 3 years, which occurred at the end of his last touring period in 2023. Saying in an interview that it was ‘so isolating’ to not be able to hear their voice on the phone anymore, ‘Memories’ is the type of track that appears just when you need it and will likely be reminiscent of different times during life – which is one of the things that makes it special.
‘Cold’ is strongly metaphorical and closes out the first half of the album. A moving track that describes the feeling when someone brings you peace in the storm of life, Lewis uses poignant lyricism to illustrate this concept, with melodic guitar as the primary instrument throughout. The chorus is an echoing crescendo, providing a strong contrast to the opening verses.
Following is ‘Trust Me Mate’, a touching tribute to those who have stood by Lewis through his meteoric rise to fame as he struggled with self-doubt and hardship. He utilises the advice given to him in the past, and what results is a single best described as comforting. Lewis draws on vivid imagery in the music video, with sequences of him standing in the ocean and alone on a street smoking, among others. However, each time he finds himself in a life-threatening situation, anonymous hands pull him back from the brink, signifying the importance of connection.
‘Love of My Life’ is a very classic track. With a similar sound and lyricism to ‘Rest’ (present earlier in the album), it’s another track that could undoubtedly go on those in-love Spotify playlists. It’s followed by ‘Until The End’, which continues on this similar path as Lewis contemplates how good it feels to have a relationship that provides him more than he thought himself worthy of. It’s obvious by this point in the album, that although Lewis considers ‘Rest’ his first ‘real’ love song that’s been released, this theme is one of the dominant threads throughout ‘The Epilogue.’
Furthermore, despite the repetitive use of the heartbreak theme in The Epilogue, ‘Clelia’s Song’ might be the most heartbreaking. A memorial for someone incredibly important to Lewis who recently passed away, the hurt in Lewis’ vocals and the underpinning current of grief here make tears likely upon listening. However, while it’s devastating, it’s also very touching. It’s incredibly clear that Clelia was highly influential, and Lewis emphasises that her love will ‘carry on’ despite her absence. Anyone who has experienced grief will be able to relate to this one, and like many songs that tackle this topic, tissues on hand will be a definite requirement.
The Epilogue closes with ‘The Last Bit of Us.’ Showcasing the experience of leaving a relationship when you know it’s over, it’s slow and sad, with years of memories represented as gone in the blink of an eye. Lewis released the song earlier this year as one of the singles from the album. The last song also has an accompanying video, and it’s a poignant way to end The Epilogue.
While Lewis has primarily stuck to his classic themes, The Epilogue is a good album that will continue to captivate the many legions of fans Lewis already has.
