The Dreamer Within – This Is Not Our Home EP
Release date: September 30
Review by: Matt Barton
Formed in 2014 through a mutual love of synth, EDM, metal music and blistering riffs; UK’s The Dreamer Within have released their long awaited debut EP.
This Is Not Our Home kicks off with Origins; the opening moments of which wouldn’t be out of place at an EDM festival. That is before frontman Matt Stuart screams, “Just wake up” and you quickly put the glow sticks away. This track really sets the scene for the whole EP and is a well-chosen opener.
Purge, the band’s lead single from the EP, has the feel of a song that would just go mental live. It’s a mosh-educing, catchy as fuck, The Amity Affliction-esque metalcore song which features everything from a breakdown to a guitar solo to a chorus that will be stuck in your head for hours.
Before you know it, the EP is coming to an end with closing track Omega. Don’t be fooled by this track’s mellow Hands Like Houses-style rock beginnings, however, as it quickly becomes just as heavy and in your face as the rest of the tracks.
Matt Stuart has the potential to be a powerhouse vocalist in the metalcore scene; going seamlessly from brutal death growl lows to brilliant screaming vocals. This is mixed well with guitarist Charlie Smith‘s cleans which round out each track nicely.
This Is Not Our Home features just five tracks and, at its core, could be seen as “just another metalcore release” but don’t let that stop you from checking it out. The quintet reminds me a lot of Japan’s Crossfaith, who also brilliantly mix the metalcore genre with synth and EDM-style music and if you’re a fan of them you’ll love this. The EP is full of “ruthless breakdowns” and “catchy clean melodies” (as promised via the band’s Facebook page) but what’s more; this EP gets better with each listen.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M8pMRy26P4&w=560&h=315]
