Review Summary: Synthwave in the slipstream
Dreamwake aren't the first band to lend themselves to 80's styled metalcore but where the renaissance of 80's music lately has lay particularly in synthwave, Dreamwake (whilst heavily leaning into this), add a prominent saxophone element to add lush soundscapes atop of a more typical metalcore offering.
'The Lost Years' is a generous 55 minute run which brings together a number of interesting elements. From the opening track 'Stargazer' the rich saxophone leads intertwine with the dreamy guitar passages of Dave Pazik. There are clear parallels to be drawn with 'Souvenirs' era Novelists both in the heavy emphasis on complex sweep picking and tapping which can be heard throughout but also in the vocal styles employed. There are a diverse range of vocals utilised throughout which interchange between harsh and clean vocals which segue between each other often very quickly. The vocals are heavily produced and this is likely to impact the appeal to longer standing metalcore fans 90s/00s. I personally find some of the clean vocals nasal sounding but there is an excellent range of clean and harsh vocals on show.
The lead guitar work is really the outstanding element here and separates Dreamwake from most of their contemporaries even if you choose to strip away the 80s synthwave motif. There are lots of progressive elements in terms of altering tempos and syncopated rhythms that can the found particularly in heavier tracks like Oasis, Supernova and Static Haze. The latter includes a tip of the hat to Invent Animate with the spacey ambience of the final breakdown.
Having enlisted saxophonist Jesse Molloy to record 'the Lost Years', it is clear that they got someone involved who was capable of crafting the sorts of rich melodies that dovetail with the composition of the other instruments. This wouldn't be possible through generic synth programming alone. The placement, layering and overall prominence of the saxophone sections are key in making sure it doesn't pass as a gimmick.
With 'the Lost Years', Dreamwake have produced something a bit more metal to differentiate themselves from the likes of regular gig mates Night Rider yet something techy enough to appeal to fans looking for their next scoop of melodic metalcore.
Recommended Tracks:
Static Haze
Oasis
Memories
