Welsh post-hardcore outfit Dream State have just dropped their intense new single ‘Monsters‘. The track premiered on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio 1 show yesterday evening, with accompanying music video added shortly after. This is the first new material since the release of their ambitious debut album Primrose Path exactly a year ago via the renowned Australian independent label UNFD.
‘Monsters‘ is an explosive blend of post-hardcore, melodic alternative metal and energetic punk rock. Dream State have been hailed as one of the most exciting rising bands in recent years and the single delivers yet another dose of their fresh and contemporary take on the genre. Lead singer Charlotte-Jayne “CJ”Gilpin arguably puts on her best vocal display so far, switching between gentle personal singing, and powerful emotional screams with ease and finese, breathing life into the intimate lyrics.
The South Wales wonders have been making the headlines ever since their self-released debut EP Consequences came out in 2015 and placed them at the forefront of the UK post-hardore and alternative rock scene. Signing for UNFD and dropping the huge single ‘White Lies‘ from their follow-up EP Recovery in 2018 earned them slots at major festivals such as Reading and Leeds, Download, Slam Dunk and Unify Gathering, and helped them gain international acclaim as one of the rising global acts of the future. Moreover, they were selected as the Best UK Breakthrough Band at the 2018 Kerrang! Awards and the 2019 Heavy Music Awards.
Their first studio album Primrose Path proved to be “one of the most talked about debut heavy releases in years” and featured absolute bangers like ‘Hand in Hand‘, ‘Primrose‘, ‘Twenty Letters‘ and ‘Open Windows‘. Only a year later, ‘Monsters‘ speaks loud and clear of Dream State’s huge potential and relentless energy, breathing life into a genre that has recently gone somewhat stale and repetative. The single is supposed to feature in a brand new EP expected at some point in 2021 and set to kickstart an exciting “new chapter” for the band.
Earlier this year, Dream State released an invigorating lockdown-inspired video for ‘Are You Ready To Live‘ at the end of June. Originally planned to feature exclusive live footage, the YouTube description confirmed that the filming was interrupted by the global pandemic and the band “saw this as a chance to get creative and involve [the] dreamers with a collection of footage that exudes positivity and light”. More recently, the initial line-up announcement of the re-scheduled 2000 Trees festival confirmed Dream State among the main support acts for Thrice on 9 July 2021, alongside Young Guns, Boston Manor and Laura Jane Grace.
Dream State return to the live stage with a UK tour in April and May 2021, followed by a performance at Slam Dunk 2021 in Leeds and Hatfield. The band’s current line-up consists of CJ Gilpin (vocals), Aled Evans (lead guitar), Rhys Wilcox (rhythm guitar and backing vocals) and Jamie Lee (drums).
‘Monsters’.
An anthem of love.
World premiere on @BBCR1 @AnnieMac / October 28th, 7pm. pic.twitter.com/8sPlgKje8S— DREAM STATE (@DreamStateUK) October 26, 2020
