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Duskfall Volume 1

Chasing Sanity

This was a very pleasing album that took me back to the 80’s, at a time when keyboards ruled the airwaves. The Retrowave sound was enhanced by six strings, and a dark pulse of electronica that was meaty. It rode smoothly into the far crevices of your mind, and took root, rebuilding some of the times and the music that was dormant in my head.  
March 11, 2026

From Bandcamp, "Where neon dreams meet twisted steel. Hailing from the shadows of Salem, Arkansas, this Retrowave 80's metal fusion band serves up a high-octane mix of synth-heavy beats, crunching riffs, and haunting vocals. Buckle up for a ride into the dark, neon-lit corners of the mind." The album has eleven songs, and "Cyberpunk 87" is first. It comes at you like the vibrant colors of the airwave in the 1980's, with warm, heavily accented synth notes and a feeling that this came from another time…another world. "In the Face of Cataclysmic Systems Failure" rumbles before it takes off, shooting like a rocket into the night sky. The guitar tones are heavy, even Djenty at times, and they allow the electronica to travel freely where it wants to go. "Moon Lust" features a catchy melody line within an energetic blueprint that is tentative at times. One thing that Martin does very well is let the melody ride out for as long as he can. It makes for memorable listen.

"Slaygore, Slay" is both firmer and darker, and some of the short lead breaks are fantastic. "Demise" has more ethereal tones, and while heavy rhythm guitars chug underneath, the melodies are set to soar. And soar they do. "Raining in Dystopia" gathers every morsel, every crumb, and wraps them up into a ball of fire, that shoots a variety of bright colors into the canopy. It pulses at times…breathing like a ragged beast, before it gains full breath control, and the lead breaks are again outstanding. "The Curse She Wore Like Lace" opens with a palate of mysterious and ambient tones before heavy rhythms come charging in. They charge in without abandon, although melodies remain at the forefront of the song. "The Mortician's Daugher" is another energetic and fast-moving song that takes full use of melody. Each note is terse, but when they combine on a thread, you can ride it out like a convertible into the sunset.

"The Alchemists Circuit" begins like the fog lifting on a cold morning, and when it burns off, a clear, warm day is left behind. The hasty pace urges you to get up and do something with your life. "Obsidian Veil" closes the album, and it closes with a bit of dark and smooth melodies that are like a satisfying piece of dark chocolate. The bottom of the song is very thick and rich, with a heavy pulse of electronica, while melodies climb the ladder above. This was a very pleasing album that took me back to the 80's, at a time when keyboards ruled the airwaves. The Retrowave sound was enhanced by six strings, and a dark pulse of electronica that was meaty. It rode smoothly into the far crevices of your mind, and took root, rebuilding some of the times and the music that was dormant in my head.  

 

 

8 / 10

Excellent

Songwriting

8

Musicianship

8

Memorability

8

Production

9
"Duskfall Volume 1" Track-listing:

1. Cyberpunk 87

2. Endless October in Syntharia

3. In the Face of Cataclysmic Systems Failure

4. Moon Lust

5. Slaygore, Slay!

6. Demise

7. Raining in Dystopia

8. The Curse She Wore Like Lace

9. The Mortician's Daughter

10. The Alchemists Circuit

11. Obsidian Veil

 

Chasing Sanity Lineup:

Martin

 

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