When I received my first and only iPod at sub-ten years old, I threw a couple bucks in the wind and, on my mother's phone, downloaded some Alan Walker, Slushii, Marshmellow, and other electronic artists' hit singles. I was a weird kid. One of those acts would foretell my infatuation with metal, that being DANCE WITH THE DEAD. I purchased "That House" off their 2017 record "B-Sides: Volume 1," and after listening to it again, it still holds up with their most recent release, "Malombra." Their combination of dark synthwave and heavy metal somehow captivated me during adolescence, and still does in my late teenage years.

"How the hell are these guys metal? It's too melodic! Clean! Electronic! Well, yeah, DANCE WITH THE DEAD is influenced by the upbeat, retro melodicism of synthwave. Their spooky tendencies convert their synthwave into darksynth, which is influenced by the atmosphere of horror synth, which is another friggin' subgenre of synth. DWTD relies heavily on melody and crystal-clear production to enforce their Hans Zimmer-esque sound, characterized not only by their poster-looking cover art, a style heavily utilized by the duo, but also by their synth's pitches and tones. DWTD could make a banger of a copyright-free Halloween music CD with their piped-in Transylvanian organs and twinkly keys, or fit-for-the-times YouTube gamer outro theme. They're hypnotizing -- their nostalgic synth riffs repeat on and on behind Pointer and Kim's guitars. It's crazy fun to write to, drive to, or just listen to.

"Malombra" is one of the heaviest records DANCE WITH THE DEAD has made since their 2013 formation. It's as much heavy metal as it is electronic, so metal purists have no reason to fret. Their dual guitar tones are crisp, metallic, and fit right in among the mix. They chug, as heard in "The Driver," they soar in songs like "Beyond the Curse," and they get quite heavy in the album's highlight, "Skull Lock." Here, session drummer John Terry hits hard, reaching power metal-like drum galloping. This record is faster, stronger, and more powerful than their previous material, and while they've dabbled in more extreme sounds before, this album could signal a grittier direction for the guys.

It could be nostalgia taking over, but I really enjoyed this album. Sure, there are some weaker songs ("Psycho Disco") scattered throughout, but by looking at "Malombra" as a whole, I have no problem dishing out a solid score. Such a "light" record may not be for everyone, but hopefully DOTD can hint at another youngin's future metal obsession.