ALBUM REVIEW: A Pale Blue Dot – Dreamshade

DREAMSHADE have gathered quite the following since their inception in 2006 and this continues to grow with each passing release. Hoping to build on their legacy the Swiss outfit have just dropped their latest release A Pale Blue Dot via self-release. It has been five years since the release of Vibrant, will it make up for the distance between?

Safe Harbour kicks off with a frenetic pace, swift riffing and a buoyant tempo. The vocal work neatly ducks and dives between powerful screams and uplifting melodies. Slick leadwork slots into the track to get A Pale Blue Dot off to an impressive start. Lightbringers builds on this with further instances of intense instrumentation. The chorus which soon follows is utterly addictive and provides a memorable moment that will ingrain itself in your head. Question Everything throws some alluring hooks into the mix alongside another earworm of a chorus segment. The guitar work transitions between punk-like powerchords and proficient technicality to great effect. Step Back possesses an anthemic vibrancy that would go down a storm on a live setlist, transforming the crowd into a sea of limbs.

Stone Cold Digital sees DREAMSHADE channel their inner LINKIN PARK with snappy rapping sequences and euphoric melodic bursts that gel together effortlessly. Just as you get sucked into the infectious energy which is unfolding you are welcomed by a monstrous breakdown. The elegant vocals provided by Rose Villain are the cherry on the cake. Impulse maintains the appealing accessible vibe, combining emotive vocal work and pulsing drum beats to get your head nodding whilst the proceeding interlude toD-eulB-elaP-(A) allows for a moment of calm contemplation.

Shanghai Nights dishes out some more delightfully addictive riffing, following a similar blueprint to its counterparts as it jumps between aggression and flourishes of enchanting harmonies. Elephant envelopes you in swathes of groove injected tones that are expertly executed and also allow for the crunchy bass lines to have their moment in the forefront. Somewhere Else displays some potent galloping bass riffs and impactful drumming that seamlessly mesh with poignant melodic vocal pieces. Another scintillating run of lead work instantly elevates the track.

On My Own sustains the adrenaline fuelled pacing firing on all cylinders with waves of rapidly reeled off riffing and bright, inviting tones. This mentality pours over into Nothing But The Truth as it launches headfirst into a pile of lively guitar licks. John Henry of DARKEST HOUR fame also leaves his signature stamp on the piece. A Place We Called Home reprises the hip hop stylings established earlier to provide some incredibly provoking lyrical content discussing the impacts of war and conflict that evoke a variety of emotions. This could have potentially been a significant landmark to wrap up this release instead DREAMSHADE have opted to fire up the riff cannon once more and let Save This bring the album to a close in incendiary fashion.

A Pale Blue Dot is a masterful array of melody, energy and expertly crafted material that refuses to let the tempo dip for even a moment. There is also a wide range of genre-splicing on show that keeps things interesting as you uncover each track, rarely allowing itself to become complacent and consider there are 14 tracks contained within this effort that definitely needs to be commended. If this is your first experience of DREAMSHADE then welcome to the party!

Rating: 9/10

A Pale Blue Dot is out now via self-release.

Like DREAMSHADE on Facebook.