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Almost a decade in the making, metalcore icons I SEE STARS are finally back with their newest record The Wheel. For the quartet, the wait for the next full-length wasn’t meant to be as long and, in fact, they had started to create a new record following the release of Treehouse in 2016 but the original material was scrapped following lockdown in 2020. Part of that decision was down to sharpen their focus for new material, but another reason was due to events happening in their personal lives relating to tragedy and health reasons.
The Wheel can be summarised as a concept album of sorts where one must listen from start to finish where you experience a journey relating to life and where it leads you. And how that journey is rarely something that can be described as linear. Opening the record is Spin It which, accurate to its title, features the sound of a spinning wheels with game sounds once it lands on a certain prize or answer. Random like life itself, before moving into the title track where the distorted electronic sounds continue and blend into something that sounds dubstep in nature as echoing vocals appear in the background. You expect a breakdown of some kind and, while it happens, it’s quite tame compared to what one might have expected, yet it’s still a decent metalcore song infused with electro. But you still can’t help but find it a little dull and safe sounding.
One might worry that the rest of the record is going to fall into this trap, but you couldn’t be more relieved when you find yourself proven wrong. Indeed, The Wheel somehow manages to accurately capture the strange, non-linear journey that is life where moments things feel wonderful and leave you empowered, other moments leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused about your very existence. And it’s a truly beautiful experience.
What I SEE STARS have become known for is their expert skill with infusing electronic with metalcore that sounds as epic as it does gnarly with riffs you can take a bite out of. Such as during Drift that accurately captures one’s progression from frustration to pure anger with the rock meets drum and bass sound that makes you feel connected to everything. Or like on Split, where from the start you know it is going to be heavy and loud, and when it hits you find yourself both in awe and ready to jump into the nearest circle pit.
And that same skill also works when it comes to the more, relatively, calm tracks that leave you in a sense of melancholy. In fact, these are the moments that hit hardest and leave you feeling somewhat emotional as you connect a little too heavily with some of the lyrics. Float is one example where, using slow electro-rock sounds, tells a story of someone feeling like they only manage to exist in a world that carries on without them; and Flood Light is a soft, melodic metalcore track that leaves you with a lump in your throat with lyrics relating to their mental state, a soon to be classic go to for those having a cry in the middle of the night.
As moving as it is hard-hitting; I SEE STARS have hit that perfect balance with their comeback album. And while we hope the next record won’t take another decade to create, in this instance it feels very much worth the wait.
Rating: 8/10
The Wheel is set for release on September 12th via Sumerian Records.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: The Wheel – I See Stars appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
