Ever since finding their footing with 2019’s ‘Sleeptalk,’ Dayseeker‘s trajectory has only got higher. Alongside their ‘Dark Sun’ album in 2022, the Southern Californian band have honed in on an emotionally resonant brand of post-hardcore/metalcore. It is a sound that neon-lit R&B and synth-pop have complemented. As they return for their sixth full-length outing, ‘Creature In The Black Night,’ the quartet look to tread down a darker path.
Past singles, ‘Pale Moonlight’ and ‘Creature In The Black Night’ set the tone early on, utilising Rory Rodriguez’s harmonies, ominous atmospherics, and dense instrumentation. The titular track bubbles with a murky, throbbing synth as Rodriguez’s anxious words are paired with horror movie imagery. It’s intense and compelling as the payoff provides a dominant and juddering guitar onslaught from Gino Sgambelluri.
One trope Dayseeker have increasingly pulled off is their ability to deliver big hooks. For example, ‘Crawl Back To My Coffin’ contains a cinematic earworm attached to Rory’s lyrical emotional yearning. Another highlight comes in the form of ‘Shapeshift’. Aided by Zac Mayfield’s bombastic drums and Ramone Valerio’s drilled-down bass, it combines an infectious chorus with a rumbling heaviness. Later on, ‘The Living Dead’ takes the same anthemic quality yet wraps it in a sultry and powerful balladic skin, before ‘Meet The Reaper’ stomps in with gut-wrenching lyrics.
Another side to Dayseeker is a willingness to experiment. One moment, they’re delivering hellish dive into the underworld with demonic breakdowns on ‘Bloodlust,’ and the next providing tranquil electronica with ‘Soulburn. Yet there is a portion of ‘CITBN’ that finds a home in gritty heaviness. ‘Nocturnal Remedy’ thrives thanks to some of their sharpest riffs. Meanwhile, ‘Cemetery Blues” final moments pulsate with hunger.
Nevertheless, Rodriguez’s ability to tell personal stories effortlessly threads everything together. His emotions range from heartbreak, desire, revenge, grief, and anger before landing on acceptance on the album finale, ‘Forgotten Ghost’. With its arena-sized soundscape, pulsating synths, and popping percussion, it’s a resolute conclusion.
As a collection, Rodriguez’s confessional storytelling remains a strong asset for Dayseeker. Whereas the production work of Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Silent Planet) elevates the chaos and catharsis that weaves around one another, playing off the survival instincts of its narrative. It allows Dayseeker‘s sound to be stridently bold, benefiting from swelling grooves, lush layers, and soaring melodies.
For a band that could’ve gone “mainstream,” ‘Creature In The Black Night’ sees Dayseeker stay grounded, embracing darker tropes to craft a cohesive record. From the horror-tinged imagery to the bone-crushing breakdowns, every element feels intentional and earned. This is the sound of a band that has found its identity and is now confidently pushing it to new extremes. Ultimately, it solidifies their status as one of the premier acts amongst rock’s new breed.
‘Creature In The Black Night’ by Dayseeker is released on October 24th on Spinefarm Records.
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