Review Summary: Teenaged me would have loved this. Adult me still kinda does.
Throwbacks have been somewhat of a theme here on Sputnik in the year 2026 with the surprise reappearances of titans like
Neurosis,
Karnivool and
Converge. I had my own unexpected mini-throwback upon discovering
Set the Sun's debut album '
At War' (2023).
Set the Sun are a new "duo known only as Arc and Eris" according to their YouTube channel description. Information on these guys is scarce as can be, but their modern take on a mixture of Nu-metal and alternative rock sounds brought me straight back to my teenage love affair with this type of music.
That's because
Set the Sun's music reminds me most of
Linkin Park's seminal first two nu-metal monoliths, if not so much in overall sound as in feel. This perceived similarity arises from both bands' consistent use of standard rock band instrumentation alongside a strong electronic soundscape as a core. Whereas
Linkin Park used a more stereotypical 2000's DJ-scratching-the-decks electronic style,
Set the Sun employs a more synthwave/electronica derived soundscape to back the instrumentation. These synth elements are commonly encountered in song introductions, often persisting in some form throughout most songs. Subtle vocal effects are applied sparingly with appreciable frequency. A dense, droning ambiance is often added in the far background of some tracks. All these digital production elements combine seamlessly to do a lot of heavy lifting in creating something of signature sound for the record.
Instrumentation is pretty standard stuff for the most part, and would be familiar to anyone into the mainstream scene of the early 2000s. I can't really explain why, but so much of the composition is particularly nostalgic, like it was ripped right off a mix CD I would have made for a 2006 time capsule. It really calls back to the feelings I had as a kid listening to the likes of
Breaking Benjamin,
Crossfade,
Trust Company and
Edgewater regardless of their actual technical similarity. Don't expect mind blowing here, expect reminiscent. That said some interesting instrumental parts can certainly be found like the riffing on 'Infantry' and the chugging on 'The Impossible'.
Much of the album blends these elements of electronica and pretty standard but always competent rock-metal composition. However, almost every song featured some mix up of the formula which kept things interesting to the ear. Sometimes these were minor - just the simple addition of unique guitar pedals ('Arrival'), keys, or vocal effects. Sometimes the changeups were more structural. Case in point was the brief but powerful metalcore-style breakdown towards the end of opener 'The Edge'. I particularly enjoyed this breakdown's brevity and impact, in a world where breakdowns appear to be engaged in an endless loudness war. There is also the proggy interlude which takes place midway through the song 'Sunsets' - too brief but still impactful in the overall structure of the song, acting as a nice focal point for it. Finally, there are also the vocal features from Clint Lowery of
Sevendust fame and Peter Kenneth Murray which made for pleasant vocal contrasts and harmonies on 'The Truth' and 'I'm Not Here' respectively.
While I would not go nearly so far as to equate the vocal performance here to
Linkin Park's Chester, there are a few similarities to be found there too. There is a resemblance in the ever-so-slightly sorrowful note to the delivery present most of the time. Note that any harsher vocal delivery is very sparingly used here. That said, the vocalist often adds some grit and tension or hits some pretty high notes in his singing voice, adding some texture and variety with some success - again recalling Chester. Lyrically the album sets a tone of a sort of worn out, fed-up defiance against seemingly insurmountable odds. As alluded to by the record's title and addressed in the songs 'Infantry' and 'Fallen', there is a cynical opposition to the futility of war - although I'm unsure of how literally this is all intended. Regardless of how you personally interpret it, there is a strong thematic golden thread stitched into most songs concerning surviving battles and enduring tough times which imparted the feel of a 'concept album lite'.
The production, which as best I can tell was handled by Arc and Eris themselves, was satisfyingly tight with a polished, clean sound. All elements, whether vocal, instrumental or electronic are consistently clear and audible with their own space to expand whenever needed, never fighting each other for space on the broad soundstage. Percussion was always pronounced and punchy with basslines clear as day - something I will never fail to appreciate in a mix. Excellent production all round.
Make no mistake - no wheels were re-invented in the making of
At War. These are some fairly standard song structures elevated by subtle variety in the soundscape - often courtesy of the electronic elements. Setting aside the band comparisons I've made, I would ultimately describe this style as "early 2000s alternative rock/nu-metal if it was made in the 2020s". My enjoyment here stemmed from music that was nostalgically familiar yet somehow fresh, harkening back to the sounds and simplicity which brought me into the fold of rock and metal music two decades ago. I recommend this to anyone who like me unabashedly enjoys music from the peak mainstream rock movements of the 2000's, even if just as a reminder of the genres and styles we enjoyed as youngsters. I also strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys tasteful combinations of electronica with their hard rock and metal.
PS: If you do like this, be sure to check out their song with
Demon Hunter.
