I See Stars are officially back. After years of teasing and wondering, the band have surfaced with new music for the first time in seven years. Their last album Treehouse was released back in 2016, with the band touring on and off in the time since. But now, we have not one but TWO new tracks to make up for lost time. And they both make the waiting so worth it.
First up is “Drift”, a seething piece of sporadic post-hardcore bludgeoning with plenty of heavenly melodies thrown in for good measure. With drum and bass interludes and arena-ready refrains, it’s a big, bad bruiser.
Vocalist Devin Oliver had this to say about it:
“‘Drift’ nods to the concept of our upcoming album. This song was written to be bipolar by nature, giving you no choice but to surrender to the ebbs and flows of your thoughts and emotions, pulling you in and out of focus.
This song highlights a newfound sense of clarity in the wheel that we all submit to. It continues to spin in and out of a dark trip that provokes as it forces us to explore the murky depths of our minds and uncharted territories of our own psyche.”
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And then there is “Anomaly”, a more pop-leaning beast. Atmospheric, delicate and full of electronic peaks and troughs, it’s beautiful in its own unique way. Add some RnB fills, and some scene-ready builds, it’s a perfect showcase of the other side of the band’s sound.
Dylan had this to add:
“This track always sticks with me long after it has finished and, in the end, leaves me feeling both exposed and empowered. ‘Anomaly’ was created from self-reflection and introspection during a time in my life when I was in and out of the hospital for two years battling a rare neurological disorder that led to me to chronic physical pain, headaches, and depression.
It’s a powerful reminder to me that the clock is ticking and we must live on our own terms, be true to ourselves and our values while battling the feeling of despair that comes when the world seems to be working against you. For a while I was grappling with the regret that I might have missed my opportunity and would be sick forever.
No matter what is happening in our lives the most difficult battles we fight are the ones within ourselves. We hope that anomaly is a reminder that when the universe tests you, staying true to yourself is always worth the struggle.”
When will we get more details on that upcoming I See Stars album? Will we hear more new music sooner rather than later? All really lovely questions to be able to ask.
Anyway, here’s a classic, just to tide you over:
