Review Summary: Chasing Shadows is an excellent EP from Angels and Airwaves, featuring songs that may one day be considered some of the best in the discography.
Chasing Shadows, the most recent EP from Angels and Airwaves, has only four tracks on it. Two of those tracks are some of the best songs I have ever heard from Angels mastermind Tom DeLonge. While I am admittedly a big fan of his, his last EP ...Of Nightmares was in my opinion some of his worst work. But when I first heard “Overload” and “Voyager”, I knew there was nothing to worry about.
While I thoroughly enjoy both songs, I think that “Overload” slightly edges it out. The songs move away from the synth-heavy sound of previous Angels tunes, so if you were not a fan of the "space rock" sound, you may find something to like here. “Overload” is a high-energy straight rock song with an explosive chorus that leads into a melodic and almost Blink-182-esque riff. In fact, if DeLonge had made this song while in Blink, it may be considered by fans as one of the best songs in the discography. “Voyager” is similar, another up-tempo song that makes you feel like you're able to conquer the world. The pre-chorus in which DeLonge sings "I'm a smooth operator/I'm a loose elevator" honestly gave me chills. The way the energy builds into another heavy chorus with DeLonge screaming "Watch me as I break the television" makes it a must listen.
Those two songs alone are worth the price of Chasing Shadows, but the other songs have something to offer as well. “Artillery” is more in line with older Angels and Airwaves, with unique instrumentation and an interesting song structure. The outro of the song features DeLonge repeating the same line over and over for about a minute and a half, but the beautiful melody makes it somehow work. Finally, the titular song “Chasing Shadows” is also a great addition to the EP. I've heard a few fans claim that this is their favorite off the EP. “Chasing Shadows” sounds like something off of 2014's The Dream Walker, a slower song that is nearly all synth based but nonetheless features another powerful chorus with lyrics that seem to express DeLonge's current state of mind, much like the rest of the EP.
