South Wales’ Dream State went viral back in 2017 with breakout single ‘White Lies’ that introduced the world to their emotionally resonant post-hardcore, while their debut album Primrose Path showed a band pushing into more synth-heavy territory without losing any of their trademark earnestness or emotional fragility. Just as they were gaining traction, though, the last few years happened and they were thrown into disarray; with the entire original lineup, bar guitarist and primary songwriter Aled Evans, leaving the band at various points for various reasons.
But, to borrow a phrase, you can’t keep a good band down. Rebuilding the lineup during the pandemic, including Glass Heart’s Jake Bowen and new singer Jessie Powell, who has freely admitted she’s got some huge shoes to fill, the band sought to flesh out what Dream State sounded like, learning from Primrose Path and pushing those synth sounds even further forward, as well as with – literally – new voices round the table. The answer is Untethered, a 3-song EP specifically to get new music out in the world as soon as they could, to prove to people, and to themselves, Dream State were back and here to stay.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way – Jessie doesn’t sound like her predecessor. But she also isn’t trying to, and there’s an audible sense of self-assurance in that. Similarly, the band aren’t trying to recapture or remake Primrose Path or its preceding EPs. Untethered is informed by its past, certainly, but just as its name suggests, seeks to deliberately unshackle itself from where it was. Case in point is first song ‘Comfort In Chaos’; although its verses are defined by driving guitar and drums, the opening synth line recurs throughout in its quieter moments.
‘Taunt Me’, the single they surprise released as their comeback single, takes those synth lines and runs with them, bringing a danceable groove and a huge chorus that showcases Jessie’s melodic range. It’s the festival banger of the EP, one to get the blood and fists pumping; the right choice for a comeback certainly, as of the three songs on the EP, it feels closest to where they came from. Finally, ‘Chain Reactions’ offers another singalong-ready chorus, and is far more melodic across its runtime. It’s defined again by driving rhythm and synths that, instead of adding background and extra depth, carry far more melodies, often counterpointing the vocals.
While it’s not a total departure from their earlier work, it arguably never wanted to be; instead it feels adjacent to Primrose Path, trading the vulnerability and rawness of that album for defiance in the face of the hurdles Dream State have faced. Jessie’s gravelly voice introduces a new timbre to their sound, taking the screamed vocals they’ve always employed and rather than injecting a sense of vulnerability, instead sound confrontational, triumphant even. The change won’t be for everyone, and they know that; but this is a snippet of a beloved band emerging victorious, if not unscathed, from hard times with their drive and creativity still intact. Untethered from their past, the journey they take from here will surely be worth following.