Search - The Dreaming :: Etched in Blood

Without exaggeration, the best rock album of the decade.

Steve | California | 06/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Dreaming is, hands-down, my favorite band of all time. And let me say that I'm a huge music fan who listens to a LOT of bands in many different styles.



I loved Christopher Hall's old band, Stabbing Westward, since the early 90s, and at the time I wouldn't have thought any band could top them. The Dreaming somehow does, though--every song on this album (as well as other songs they've released, which are available through their myspace page) is just ridiculously good--melodic, powerful, scathing, beautiful, expertly crafted, and tightly performed. The musicians work together tremendously well, and avoid both the nu metal trap of too-simple riffs and the shred metal trap of runaway egos. There are terrific guitar solos and other sophisticated musicians' flourishes throughout the album, but they blend so well with the energy and drive of the songs that one doesn't even notice them as distinct from the songs themselves. More satisfying and aurally pleasing than any punk album I've heard, more powerful and driving than any goth album I've heard, and more melodic and genuinely passionate than any metal album I've heard--this hand has NAILED the combination of styles like no one else. And Chris remains one of the absolute finest voices in rock, and his soaring choruses get me every time.



The album is even more remarkable when one considers how DIY this band is. The quality of mixing and mastering here is on par with the most expensively-produced albums I've heard, despite these guys doing this basically on their own.



Also, if you get a chance to see The Dreaming live, I have to say, DO. I saw these guys for my bachelor party recently, and I have to say, it was the coolest time I think I could have possibly had. The musicians themselves are incredibly friendly and down-to-earth, and spent time hanging out with us fans before and after the show. Chris even hauled me on stage at one point during the performance because I was wearing an old Stabbing Westward shirt.



Anyway: as Jon Stewart says, if you're a fan of joy, invest in this album. Absolutely the best release of the year."

Pretty good stuff. . .but

Darioz Svabodas | Chicago, Illinois | 07/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The album is great, but I expected two other things given the song list on the band's web site: 1) the cover for the song "Send me an Angel"--people have mentioned this as a "hidden track" on the CD but I've played the CD several times and have never heard it, and 2) the acoustic version of the song "Crawl." I know this was not listed in the tracks but I was really hoping it was going to be included."

Emo that freaking rocks

M. Rossmore | North Miami Beach, FL United States | 08/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's be straight up about this: The Dreaming is emo. They dress emo. They cut their hair emo. They even called their acoustic EP "Dreamo".



But this is NOT normal emo. This is not some recently heartbroken 19 year old in his bedroom writing unrequited love songs on a tear-stained acoustic guitar. There are no violins tugging at heart-strings.



This music has balls. You can rock out to this, mosh to this, sing along to it at the top of your lungs. Yes, the lyrics are about heartbreak and betrayal, Chris Hall's voice is full of angst and passion, the chords are all minor, and this is not a happy album by any stretch of the imagination. But it comes at you with such force and such power, expressed with in-your-face guitars and overall excellent songwriting that you can't help but let it under your skin. Every single song on this album is a rocking-out winner.



If you liked Stabbing Westward, you will like The Dreaming. They do not have the sampling / programming / electronics that made up so much of the atmosphere within the SW albums, but you do not miss it. The skillful guitar work and effective rhythm section give The Dreaming a sound all their own. The musicianship supersedes even Nine Inch Nail's latest effort, "The Slip". There are many layers to each of their songs. Chris Hall's voice is in top form, from his memorable whispers to his earsplitting screams. He continues to be one of the most talented and underrated singers in modern rock.



Highlights here include "Become Like You", "Ugly" (formerly called "Beautiful" on their old EP), and "Dead to Me". The only misstep is the new version of "Let it Burn". The version on here is much lighter and more acoustic than the much heavier version on the original Dreaming EP. While it gains layers of sounds, it has lost the bite of the original version. Nonetheless, it's still a good song.



If you like hard, emotion-filled rock music, this album's for you."