I See Stars Release New Single and Visualizer for "Split"
I See Stars are no stranger to the industry and at this point, I don’t think anyone is a stranger to them either. With just four tracks collectively amassing 13 million streams on Spotify alone, you could say they’re a well liked band. The last few singles we've seen from I See Stars are encouraging to see where they're going next. Especially as the 'electronicore' genre has taken off again and blended more with the metal genre in lieu of the pop genre back in the 2010's, which fits the latest I See Stars releases far better.
Titled as Electronic hardcore pioneers, I See Stars are known for faster upbeat metal music with synth sounds. However, they did seem to deviate a smidge from their standard sound for this new single, “Split.” While I normally associate this band with more upbeat or poppier music, “Split” gives me the impression of well controlled anger. And I’ve willingly being playing it on repeat in order to write this review.
Staying true to their iconic sound with vocalist, Devin Oliver, ‘calling out’ and creating an echoing effect, they’ve balanced it well with the following lines being pitched deeper and feeling more substantial in the song. They’ve also kept their upbeat drums, fun riffs, and clever keyboard usage, but also added a more heavier sound for this single. Oliver shared their inspiration for the track and I can clearly see why I think of anger or frustration when I hear this song: “'SPLIT' takes you through the highs and lows of our journey as artists, from being signed at 15 and leaving high school to pursue our dreams, to exploring the mental toll and constant self-doubt. It highlights how the industry once felt divided by the machine, splitting artists up & weakening them/stripping them of their power. As you navigate the smoke and mirrors, you’re left with a version of yourself you don’t even recognise, constantly questioning what you’d be willing to do for your dreams. How far are you willing to go? What sacrifices are you willing to make for your dream?"
Whether you can relate to the connection to the music industry or whether you’re just working a 9-5 to pay the bills, the lyrics ring true. And with a line like “I feel seconds from…I feel seconds from disappearing” reminds me of Sleep Token’s “Accensionism” line of “You make me want to disappear” (I am not comparing the two bands in any means- just the lyrics.) The undertone of the songs both ring true and while they are two very different writing styles, and bands in general, the songs both have a very similar undercurrent of displeasure and maybe even wanting to re-write a bit of your own reality.
With fast and heavy drums from the start, it's a stark difference when they suddenly slow to a heartbeat rhythm, only to dive right back into the faster pace that I've come to know and love from them. With that alone, it's a moving moment in the song, but when Oliver asks "Are you willing?... It takes blood... Am I? I don't know..." the connection between the two are even more prominent and moving. While some genres might demand more story telling in their lyrics, looking at you R&B, I think the ability to create a full, and relatable, story with a repeatable, predictable, set of lyrics is a talent of it's own right. People like what they can remember and what they can be a part of- what better way to do that than create a song that has lyrics so solidly built on word that sounds so similar to another some like to shout in difficult times.
While we haven’t heard of an album release from the guys in I See Stars, you can catch them live on tour this fall with Palaye Royale, Weathers, and Diamanté. I know from what I’ve seen, I See Stars is not a band to miss live so that’s definitely a concert you don’t want to miss if you were thinking of going.
Death Or Glory North American Tour Dates:
9/16 - San Francisco, CA @ The Regency
9/18 - Portland, OR @ Crystal
9/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neptune
9/21 - Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore
9/24 - Edmonton, AB @ Midway
9/25 - Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre
9/27 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
9/28 - Denver, CO @ The Gothic Theater
9/30 - Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
10/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave - Eagles Hall
10/3 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
10/4 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
10/5 - Detroit, MI @ The Majestic
10/6 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian Theater
10/8 - Montreal, QC @ Theatre Beanfield
10/9 - Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
10/11 - Boston, MA @ Big Nite Live
10/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Brooklyn Bowl
10/13 - New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10/15 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
10/16 - Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
10/18 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
10/19 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
10/21 - Dallas, TX @ Echo
10/22 - Austin, TX @ Emo’s
10/25 - Mesa, AZ @ The Nile
10/27 - Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
