Formed during the pandemic, L.S. Dunes made their debut at 2022’s Riot Fest shortly before releasing their album Past Lives, which was well-received by fans and critics. The band is made up of lead vocalist Anthony Green (Circa Survive , Saosin and The Sound of Animals Fighting), guitarist Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), guitarist Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria), bassist Tim Payne (Thursday) and drummer Tucker Rule (Thursday), and originated from rehearsals of Thursday’s 2020 holiday livestream with the working title ‘Dad Bods’. Today, L.S. Dunes release their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Violet, and it’s a huge contrast to their previous release with an overall more positive tone.
Green’s stunning acapella vocals open the album with “Like Magick”, before the mellow guitar kicks in. It’s an interesting opener, but sets the tone for the album with a very cinematic sound. “Fatal Deluxe” is heavier off the bat, with screaming vocals but contrasting, funky instrumentation. The clean vocals provide a beautiful melody and it’s a very full track.
“I Can See It Now…” brings some grungy guitar tones with an eerie riff and dissonant vocals. Next is the titular track which is a true standout. “Violet” has a beautiful melody, with the vocals complimenting the intricate instrumentation beautifully- it’s cohesive and harmonious, with the screaming backing vocals blending in seamlessly.
“Machines” is my personal favourite. It’s a little more upbeat than the previous tracks, with a crisp beat and a really lovely vocal melody. It’s got a more prominent early-2000s sound than the rest of the record, but builds into a heavier chorus. “You Deserve To Be Haunted” follows, with a lot going on. Screaming vocals, a piercing electric guitar and heavy drums hit you all at once- but it works, and it’s fun. It’s a powerful track, with the outdo repeating the lines, “My defense, my defense, I insist you listen. my defect, my defect, I insist you listen.”
“Holograms” and “Paper Tigers” slow things down a little bit while still maintaining the big energy of the record. “Paper Tigers” in particular is another standout, with quiet vocals and a slow drum beat. It’s got a darker aesthetic, but the lyrics are quite hopeful and motivating, with lines like, “Bow down and shake the Earth, whatever moves the world, remember, time doesn’t change our odds.” “Things I Thought Would Last Forever” is another cinematic sounding track with a slow build. The echoey vocals shine on this track despite not having the catchiest melody.
The album closes with “Forgiveness”, and it’s everything I look for in a closing track. It’s an epic, anthemic track packed with loads of energy and a slow but satisfying build up into a huge, bursting chorus. Green’s vocals, particularly at the start of this track, are flawless. The melody is beautiful and everything just seems to come together and fall into place on this track.
While Past Lives had themes of hopelessness and despair, Violet serves as a contrast, with themes of forgiveness, hope and overall a very uplifting tone. Every track is big, and while this can at times run the risk of sounding like a mess of noise, Violet avoids this with flawless production and a seamless harmony of vocals and instruments all coming together and knowing their place. Violet is not only a beautiful album, but also a true testament to the band’s growth since their debut, setting the bar high for future releases.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Header image credit: Shervin Laine
Violet from L.S. Dunes is out now – grab a copy HERE