“Let’s meet where the fallen stars bit on the Earth in broken memories.”
The last few years has seen the emergence of a fusion genre between hyperpop and metal. A union of unlikely genres, this year alone has seen a number of efforts with varying levels of success. Bring Me The Horizon and Earthists. were some of 2024’s more notable examples, taking on the concept in their own unique ways. With their upcoming EP, Crystalview is the latest band to make their foray into this niche.
The trio from Washington made their mark with a stellar debut EP, Distant Lights: Solstice, back in 2020. An impactful and diverse display of ambient progressive metalcore, the group showed much promise and potential. Following this group went mostly quiet for a while, finally re-emerging this year. Pulling from a diverse pool of artists, from Porter Robinson to Charli xcx to Northlane, their pivot toward this sonic direction actualises in Dreamscape//Kaleidoscope.
The EP’s first single, “「.Luna:://Blossom.」”, was the first taste of this new direction. It leans heavily on an EDM-focussed atmosphere to provide an interesting foundation to their signature aggressive, djenty chugs. Guitarist Anthony Vu and drummer Andrew Pangilinan play to the track’s twists and turns, displaying Crystalview’s penchant for heavy ambience. Vocalist Davin Morta continues to display the duality in his voice, juxtaposing weighty, destructive screams with his soaring singing voice. A myriad of electronic samples and a prominent autotune effect on Morta’s voice present the hyperpop influences in an intriguing manner, a stylistic approach that is (subjectively) make or break. Underneath the experimental soundscapes it paints lies a deeply melancholic and personal song, one of coming to terms with inner turmoil. All of this is aided by production from Buster Odeholm (Vildhjarta, Humanity’s Last Breath, thrown), with his cataclysmic mixing style meshing unexpectedly well with this sound.
The EP makes an unexpected and bold choice to split “「.Luna:://Blossom.」” in half, with “「.Luna::/ “ and “/Blossom.」” forming the start and end track respectively. Symbolically, it seems to represent opening the song up to find more within, bringing a unique narrative perspective to the whole EP. “ev : Reful//gence” manages the impressive feat of feeling familiar, yet new for Crystalview, as it blends the sound they established on Distant Lights: Solstice seamlessly with the track’s EDM influences. There’s a sense of continuity in the band’s sound, introducing new elements without making a sharp departure from what was already established. Swinging into a crushing first verse, the band shows no restraint in crafting a dichotomous experience, with pummelling low-string chugs and layered screams giving way to a vibey, uplifting chorus. There’s a certain charm in how this approach is pulled off.
“:.aurora)” is sonically upbeat, but it deceptively hides a song of bleak frustration. With its playful, Owl City-esque synth melodies and atmospheres, the track also launches into some of the EP’s heaviest moments, most notably in its destructive mid-track breakdown. The bright and happy mood of the track is played up sardonically, as the emotion sees itself interrupted by angrier, aggressive twists.
The EP takes a more melancholic route with “s(u)np00l/s”, introducing a lush soundscape that signals a moment of introspection. This floaty space builds into a release with the guitars and drums joining the mix, a gorgeous and heavy twist to the track’s atmosphere. I only wish the band had given this portion of the track just a little more time to develop.
An interesting and prominent detail of the EP is a digitalized female voice that is present on almost every track. Speaking in verbosity, the voice often appears at the start and end of tracks, as well as between sections on the tracks. Upon closer inspection, the voice plays to the personal nature of the tracks, melancholically giving the tracks a cinematic quality. The voice often repeats motifs from previous tracks, giving the EP an interconnected feel.
With ending tracks “_Kaleidescope:” and “/Blossom.」”, the story of this EP ends on a hopeful note. “_Kaleidescope:” plays to the more upbeat notes that were present on “:.aurora)” with a much less cynical outlook, reflecting on the journey and coming to a place of realisation. Its beautifully heavy atmosphere continues to work harmoniously with the hyperpop elements. As “/Blossom.」” enters the scene with a abrupt dissonant chug, it gives way to an airy, open breakdown before returning to the track’s chorus. Ending on the line “And I know, and I know, and I know that there’s a part of me that’s sanguine”, there’s a poetic and reassuring end to the narrative. The full “「.Luna:://Blossom.」” closes out the EP in a manner that can be likened to the ending credits to a movie. The choice to split up this track, only to have it return at the end is imaginative, though I imagine it may confuse some listeners.
There’s no denying that the sonic direction of Dreamscape//Kaleidoscope won’t be for everyone. It’s authentic and ballsy in its incorporation of its influences, and that may end up being a deterrent for those who aren’t a fan of the style. Still, there’s much to admire about how boldly Crystalview have chosen to go all in, and the resulting sound is something that feels well-intentioned and purposeful. If you can get past its initial perculiarities, what lies beneath is rather honest and insightful, with its storytelling mirroring a lived experience. Dreamscape//Kaleidoscope’s path, though potentially divisive, is nonetheless a unique presentation of something sincere.
8.5/10
Dreamscape//Kaleidoscope releases on the 19th of July independently. Pre-order links for the EP can be found here.