Illenium
Fallen Embers


4.5
superb

Review

by Tundra USER (27 Reviews)
February 2nd, 2025 | 8 replies


Release Date: 2021 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Reconstructing brostep from its foundational elements.

Brostep has really changed since the Skrillex days. It’s no surprise that a lot of people have mixed feelings about the genre a decade later. That over-the-top sound definitely made waves, for better or worse. Getting brostep back into the good graces of many will be a tough sell, but then Illenium comes along with "Fallen Embers" and flips the script entirely. Instead of those crazy drops that sound like Optimus Prime in a Michael Bay movie, Illenium opts for a more subtle, thoughtful, and cinematic approach that completely reshapes the genre.

One of the standout features of "Fallen Embers" is its chill and beautiful verses. Take "Lay It Down," for example, where Krewella delivers stunning vocals, especially her falsetto that gives you goosebumps, paired with lovely guitar harmonics in the background. Illenium is known for those acoustic guitar plucks in the verses, which add a natural and grounded feel, often mixed with strings that create a cinematic and captivating sound. There’s also a nice lofi hip hop rhythm in the verses, making it super easy to vibe with. It’s a big step for brostep to be so laid-back and chill, but Illenium nails it throughout the album. Another highlight is Lights on "Hearts on Fire." The lyrics are all about empowerment, perfect for anyone who’s been through a tough breakup and is finding their strength again.

The brostep drops are allowed ample time to develop, resulting in euphoric moments throughout the tracks. A standout piece is "Fragments," which features exquisite chord progressions and a majestic, robust atmosphere. The drop is pleasantly laid-back, avoiding an excessive surge of synthesizers. Rather, it maintains a soothing rhythm while gradually increasing in intensity. Listening to the tracks gives off a laid-back feel, which is a bit unusual for electronic dance music. Typically, you'd expect something more upbeat and danceable, but "Fallen Embers" leans towards a mellow groove that’s super enjoyable. Each song follows a classic pop structure, ensuring a sense of coherence throughout. While some might find this repetitive as the album progresses, it actually works in its favor. A lot of electronic music can get lost in complexity, but these tracks stay focused.

However, there are a few missteps in "Fallen Embers," especially with the male vocal features. For instance, "Losing Patience" featuring nothing.nowhere can feel a bit off. The vocal style echoes a lot of contemporary male pop, giving off "fucboi" braggadocious energy. Even if the lyrics aim to express good intentions, it still feels a bit off. On the flip side, the female vocals shine throughout the album, fitting seamlessly with the music. The sound is gentle and aligns perfectly with the typical female vocal style. While brostep might seem beyond saving for some, Illenium makes a solid effort to transform the genre into something much more enjoyable.



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user ratings (6)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
BallsToTheWall
February 2nd 2025


52162 Comments


This sounds awesome. Good review man, will jam today.

Hawks
February 2nd 2025


97788 Comments


I'd rather drink a load of cow jizz than listen to anything called "brostep". Plus Tundra 4.5 = dog vomit.

AnimalForce1
Contributing Reviewer
February 2nd 2025


1280 Comments


Illenium is one of those artists where I like specific songs from him (Nothing Ever After, Shivering), but full albums have always been a harder sell

BallsToTheWall
February 2nd 2025


52162 Comments



I never really outgrew 2011 Hawks so it seems like uhh I found myself in a pickle,
Musically and ethically.

jrlikestodance
February 2nd 2025


3473 Comments


As someone who started clubbing in the brostep era, we do not need it in the good graces of anyone lol

Hawks
February 2nd 2025


97788 Comments


I love electronic music but zero chance this is any good lol. And you know me Ballsy, I've expanded but still didn't outgrow 2011 either lmao.

BallsToTheWall
February 2nd 2025


52162 Comments


^ this further reinforces me understanding all the unnecessary and outdated chaos I’ve brought in life.

Tundra
February 2nd 2025


10330 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

@AnimalForce1 yeah that's where my male vocalist point comes in. This album provides the least amount of those male vocal tracks, and are mostly female vocals. That's my main issue with this style, the albums are usually very inconsistent, and it's usually the male tracks that bog it down. Sure, there are some outliers like "Pray" which is actually fantastic. It's just a shame the same can't be said for the majority of male vocal led tracks in this style.



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