Dayseeker "Sleeptalk" Album Review

By: James Southworth
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

It seems like every year, there is a band/album that comes out of nowhere and surprises me in the best way possible. This year, that band happens to be Dayseeker. Now, it's not like I've never heard of the band before. They're generally well-regarded in the metalcore/hardcore scene. I am not very familiar with them, so I don't really have the knowledge of their musical history or anything to stand on for this review. I think this new album, "Sleeptalk", is probably very reflective of how excellent their past releases have been. Nearly everything about this album is superb, from its consistent themes to every band member contributing something incredible.

This album has a really clear through line in regards to its thematic arc: it talks about different types of brokenness. It seems to go into the perspectives of different types of pain and hurt that one can go through. Because of that, this album is quite dark and can be very tragic in many ways. The heartbreaking feel of this album starts right away with "Drunk", which tells the story of a father with an incurable illness who uses alcohol to cope with it. The song does an excellent job musically at building off this dark theme, beginning with effective vocoded vocals from lead vocalist Rory Rodriguez. Like I mentioned in the beginning of the album, all the band members are on their A-Game here, and Rory really plays a big part in bringing this album home. His vocal delivery here, particularly in the chorus, is laced with raw emotion that only serves to accentuate the tragedy of the subject matter here. I love the way guitars and synths fuse together in this track, making it a great opener to the album. It really does a good job at setting up what you're going to get for the rest of the release.  "Crooked Soul" is a great follow-up to "Drunk", and is perhaps one of the catchier songs on the album. I appreciate that the song has some clear pop sensibilities that are well-incorporated with rock and a little bit of the band's metalcore style they're known for. This song seems to be more personally connected to Rory, as he talks about the fact that he seems to be unable to feel anything despite the fact that he knows he has a heart. This irony makes the song sound truly desperate, as Rory vocally seems to be truly want to feel, but can't. The song is pretty heart wrenching to listen to in that regard. Just for the cherry on top, the guitar riff that goes throughout this song at certain times is to die for. It reminds me a bit of Architects while not being a direct rip-off. "Burial Plot" was one of the singles for the album, and one can see why. It really emphasizes on Rory's ability to sound catchy and intense at the same time. The song has some of the best lyrics on the album, using powerful imagery to represent a broken relationship: "A burial plot for you and I/Where we can both learn to die/It's my fault that you're gone/I've been digging in the dirt, finding every way to hurt". Like I said before, this album's tragic themes are intense. But they always work due to the way they're lyrically and musically represented.

My clear favorite of the album turns out to be the title track. This was the one song I heard in advance of the album, and I've been addicted to it ever since I heard it. This song is the most clear example that Dayseeker really know how to write a great hook, as this song is catchy to an almost criminal degree. The catchiness makes the song's subject matter all the more easy to latch on to. I love the way the song lyrically paints a picture of a relationship that is simply doomed to fail: "It's  toxic, the same dance/Our  feet firm in quicksand/Love is bitter when I see/How  much I can make you bleed". This is so different from your typical relationship song in my opinion. We see the exact reasons why the relationship doesn't work, and Rory doesn't wash his hands clean of the blame. In fact, he (or the perspective of the person he's going into) seems to think he's entirely in the fault for it not working. The interplay of electronics and guitar play in this song is easily at its best on this song, and the tear-jerking hook "The worst is yet to come" makes this track one that is pretty much unforgettable. Not only is this the best cut on the album, it'll almost surely be one of my top 10 songs of 2019. The album continues to be stellar with yet another major highlight, "The Color Black". If the title track represented this album at its most catchy, then "The Color Black" is the album at its most intense. And man, is the intensity earned on this track. The guitar riffs and drumming slam through this song at an intense speed. The song expresses some real anger at someone who is abusive to his wife. Rory doesn't let this man get off in the slightest, as the lyrics truly cut deep. I love how dissonant in the harmonies the song gets when Rory sings out "But your soul is the color black". It really sends chills up your spine, and it's meant to do so.

"Already Numb" isn't one of my absolute favorites on the album, but I can't deny how gorgeous of a track it is. This song is pretty simple musically, just having an acoustic guitar and some sparse electronics throughout. I appreciate that the song doesn't do too much, as this helps Rory's vocals take center stage. The song is a little cliched in lyrical matter, but the lyrics aren't badly written, so I can't complain too much. "Gates of Ivory" is another effectively intense moment on the album, this time detailing religious hypocrisy. This is a topic that is pretty typical of the metal genre, but Dayseeker does a great job of putting their own spin on it. In the song, it seems that Rory is personally pained by this person's self imposes importance: "The grace is undeserving, if you don't practice what you preach/You used to know me/But you let go slowly/It must be lonely, being so holy". I really like how intense this song gets at all the right moments, with Rory letting loose song of his best screams here. But honestly, the ballad "Starving To Be Empty" might be the one I slightly prefer in the ending half of the album. This song brought tears to my eyes, as Rory and guest vocalist Seneca Petee discuss in heart wrenching detail an eating disorder. They both poignantly point out the physical and emotional hurt that comes with having one of these. This song might be the most hopeful on the album in a way, as they both plead to anyone listening "Don't leave me all alone". I love the way these two's vocals come together in the finale of the song, as it really closes things out on a powerful note. "Crash and Burn" is a great way to end the album, as it is definitely the most epic song on the album. This song builds and builds to a fever pitch, and then absolutely explodes in the best way possible. My mouth was honestly left hanging open by this song, and it really leaves you in awe of this album as a whole.

There isn't really much to complain about on this album. I suppose that the instrumental cut "The Embers Glow" is a little bit underwhelming. I also do wish there were a couple more songs to round out the album a little more. With the songs we get, though, it's hard to really fault the album for being short. Every full track here impresses, with the best cuts here being among the best songs I've heard all year. The wonderful combination of pop, rock, and metal makes this album very multi-faceted. Completing the whole effect is the powerful thematic arc that goes throughout this album, making it feel like a true experience from front to back. Please, listen to this album. "Sleeptalk" is easily one of the best releases of the year!

Favorite Songs: "Sleeptalk", "The Color Black", "Starving to Be Empty", "Crash and Burn", "Burial Plot"
Least Favorite Songs: "The Embers Glow"