Review Summary: Electronicore's biggest pioneer with a sudden shift towards genericore
Back in 2009, I See Stars released their debut effort 3-D which introduced many new elements into the metalcore scene. Using electronic flourishes in nearly every release, this band was doomed to fall, then a sudden switch into modern metal-core spawned Digital Renegade, and brought forth a new I See Stars.
The album opens with Gnars Attack which has a somewhat dramatic beginning, with repeated lyrics that get louder every second, this band opens hard and powerful. Zach Johnson's vocals have improved greatly from the last 2 releases, as his voice doesn't sound as strained and his growls are backed by heavy instrumentals. After a powerful beginning, the song falls into the usual routine for ISS, Devin's whiny vocals and electronic music that actually flows with the band quite nicely. The breakdown after the electronic section is very strong, and the backing music actually gives a climactic feel, which is quite nice for an opening track. NZT48 is the same structure as Gnars, however the guitar has a few riffs and boring to say the least, the guitar is actually the highlight of this song. Digital Renegade is the first song on the album that has little to no electronics, and it happens to be one of the few songs on this CD that the singing is enjoyable. The instruments while consisting of chugs and standard beats on the drums, it works well, and gives the song a steady flow. The breakdown at the end of this song is quite different for this band, being that it sounds heavier then usual. The first listen, you'll think this song is a different band and the heaviness actually fits this band greatly. Endless Skys and Underneath Every Smile continue the same formula as the first few tracks, however Endless Skys features Danny Worsnop, and his spot is completely useless in this song.
Mystery Wall, which features some of the best lyrics I See Stars has to date, happens to be the strong song on this CD both instrumentally and lyrically. The beginning follows the same quiet to loud build up as Gnars, but after the beginning breakdown the song has some very interesting vocal shifts, and the drums are the strongest they have ever been. Mystery Wall in general shows I See Stars at their absolute best, and is the second standout track from the album. Filth Friends Unite is the album closer and is quite the shocker for a band like this. This song is the farthest thing from I See Stars' roots, being that not a single soft spot found in the entire track. The drudgy breakdown in the beginning is very well executed, and the verse for the song has Devin while being whiny sounding serious for once. This concludes the album, and shows an entirely different side of I See Stars then what most people were expecting.
