The Return of the Electrocore
Every
band strives to find their muse. Every musician wants to encapsulate a sound in
their music that defines them as musicians, and I See Stars have been no
stranger to this journey. They have been creating a strange blend of metalcore
and electronica since their inception. Mixing post-hardcore, EDM, pop and
alternative rock are pretty much showing snippets of promise in each crevasse
of their music amidst a broad lens of unfavorable criticism. On their fifth
full-length album, Treehouse, a
lineup change has led to a stylistic change as well.
Treehouse sees the band experiencing addition by
substraction, as both guitarist Jimmy Gregerson and screamer Zach Johnson left
the band amicably, giving Devin Oliver a position as the primary songwriter. The
band still utilizes two vocalist, Andrew Oliver plays the role of co-vocalist
and performs keys live rather than drums, but it is enough of a shift in sound
to startle longtime fan for sure. *cough* me *cough Plus, my homie
Luke Holland does the drum work for this album. So if you are looking for
another reason that this record is worth a listen -Luke Holland is in it!
While on the previous album, New Demons, Devin did all the clean
vocals and very little on the unclean, i have to admit that his voice is
arguably very pop-oriented by which i mean like the combination of Jonny Craig
and Tyler Carter, with a touch of nasal whine. I say all this in advance
because if you are a dedicated I See Stars fan, Treehouse will either surprise you, or infuriate you. It is a
deliberating rebranding, much the same as Bring Me The Horizon recently
undertook, and it is going to be very polarizing.
At the same time, while it is not
the most consistent album, what I See Stars do well on Treehouse, i daresay they do flawlessly. In fact the EDM and
post-Hardcore genres surprisingly have one thing in common, they have always
stricken many as forms of music that lack substance on their own but hold
potential for growth in the future. Most EDM lacks the powerful choruses or
consistent and solid vocal performances found in most pop records, whereas most
post-Hardcore lacks the technicality or innovation that drives modern metal and
hard rock acts.
What I See Stars do on Treehouse is bring together each genre’s
strengths in a way that makes them both feel album-worthy; cohesive and gripping.
The lead-off track “Calm Snow” is a good example. It sets the tone with an
exclamation mark, the auto-tuned crooning vocal over a minimal electronic
backdrop that starts the song is the most ‘pop-radio’ moment on the album but
as when the chorus drops, though all notion of Top 40 play pop song is
banished. I would not say that it is a heavy track because “Calm Snow” does
sound like the old-school techno elements, and crashing guitars are enough to
make the explosive chorus too rowdy for anyone not familiar with headbanging. Its
only flaw is that it ends too fast and a bit abruptly. “Mobbin’ Out” and “Running
With Scissors” are enough’s enough to tease fans about what the whole album
would like to be.
This new venture in sound is also
prevalent in the standout track “Everyone’s Safe in the Treehouse”. A song that
is instantly ear grabbing with a soothing and spacious opening that transitions
to a hook that soars over its punching and epic instrumental. The track “Break” fakes you out with a heavy –well,
electronic-heavy intro- but morphs into a soft, incredibly pretty verse, THE
SPARSE PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT IS CHILLING!!! Super poppy, but the chorus is
dark and swirling, approximating Sleeping With Sirens pretty well. While “White Lies” actually stretches even
further and pulls in elements -like slightly distorted, high-pitched, and
belted chorus vocals- while drifting through the minimal verses with a very
interesting, reverb drenched-not quite falsetto where the notes sometime feel
intentionally stretched.
The second half of the record
presents a set of ethereal and atmospheric, yet aggressive tunes, each coated
with sugary melodies that are intoxicating and catchy. Songs like “Light in the
Cave”, “Portals” and “Two Hearted” mix the band’s crunching guitars,
synthesizers and both electronic and natural drumming in a way that comes
together as a sonic melting pot that against all odd works. And it works in a
way that is refreshing and new. As for “Light in the Cave”, it is a perfect mix
of the old and new, with ripping guitars and sinister, glitchy electronic
loops, gorgeously melodic. I think fans of Saosin will likely love this song.
Well, it is not all sunshine and
synth rainbows, as there are a few missteps in the album. “All In” tries so
hard to be a club banger, while the hook is very Drake-tune, the track feels
off. “Walking On Gravestones” is another really weak song, feeling more like a
4 minute interlude than a standalone piece of music. The closing track “Yellow
King”, in my opinion, chooses to experiment. It features a heavier focus on
more typical rock and metal style. A nice shift for the album outro.
Lyrically this record is one of the
most cohesive that I See Stars have mustered together. Each song using a vast
array of metaphors to capture the themes that represent the album as a whole. The
album embraces this somber, reflective and nostalgic tone and it matches the sound
of the record well. Treehouse is
both feel like and tells a story about looking at a chaotic, destructive and
beautiful world from a place that is secure, and it strikes that mood with
euphoria. And as with many album that has a shift in sound, there is bound to
be a flop or two. well, you judge
Despite these gripes, this electric
yet cohesive sound that I See Stars have grasped on Treehouse shows nothing but mastery of the craft they have been
trying to perfect since their 2009 debut. Overall, Treehouse is a fantastic reset for them. While they did not
necessary need a course correction, by focusing on Devin’s excellent vocals and
mighty catchy electronic beats over metalcore tropes. Treehouse is definitely their best album yet.
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