I See Stars make a triumphant comeback with the release of their brand new album The Wheel, which marks a new era for the band. What should be noted is that technically half the album is already out with the EP Eliminator – ‘Drift’, ‘D4mage Done’, ‘Split’, ‘Eliminator’, ‘Are We 3ven’ and ‘Anomaly’. The other tracks on The Wheel are ‘Curtain Call’, ‘Floodlight’, ‘Float’, ‘The Wheel’, ‘Spin It’, ‘Afterdark’, ‘Carry On For You’, and ‘Lost It’. While this pre-release strategy isn’t necessarily a bad thing, some of the surprise is gone as several of the heavy hitters are already out instead of keeping them hidden until the album release.
Fans will not be disappointed with this release, as many people loved the previous album Treehouse (2016), which took the band in a softer direction while maintaining the sensational vocals, heavy guitar work and strong electronic presence. When people think of I See Stars and their earlier work, the most favourable album is New Demons, which is simply perfection.
You will have noticed the absence of heavy vocals from Zach Johnson, who left the band in 2015, which explains why there aren’t the ultra-harsh vocals on Treehouse or The Wheel. When we covered I See Stars at Slam Dunk Festival this year with both a live review and interview, Devin Oliver remained the main singer handling clean vocals, while drummer Andrew Oliver has taken on heavier vocals. They still nailed the older material, such as ‘New Demons’.
The Sound Evolution
Some of that heaviness has returned, and there is an increased emotional intensity, marking a new era that builds upon the foundation of Treehouse with more aggressive elements. Nailing many of the softer vocal tracks while maintaining the heavy growls and screams along with the electronica, the nine-year wait for a new album is definitely worth it. The band has matured significantly in their sound and style compared to their early work like 3-D and End of the World. While they made those albums in high school after being signed at a young age, the progression since then has aged like fine wine.
Track Highlights
‘Lost It’ features Palaye Royale singer Remington Leith, which feels more like a duet with Devin’s smoother singing contrasting with Remington’s grittier voice – it’s definitely a unique track.
‘Split’ delivers djent vibes in the guitar work, which you can hear throughout the album. Whether or not it fully commits to this sound, the genre is being dubbed as electronicore, providing a wide scale of what can be achieved without changing direction too heavily.
‘Carry On For You’ takes a more relaxed musical approach compared to other tracks, with the intro and chorus featuring drum and bass elements while maintaining dramatic instrumental backing.
‘The Wheel’ is a short track clocking in at just under two minutes. With a slow intro, it jumps straight into aggressive territory that makes you want to unleash some energy, and glides seamlessly into ‘Eliminator’.
‘Floodlight’ feels like one of the more dramatic tracks, where Devin appears to address mental health and the constant scrutiny of being in the spotlight – sometimes it’s better to shut off the lights.
Though this isn’t the album order, ‘Afterdark’ feels like it should come before ‘Curtain Call’ as they flow together effortlessly.
The album concludes with ‘Curtain Call’, which serves as both a natural ending and a reflection on the album’s journey. The Wheel explores themes of love, regret, loss, and the experience of being in the spotlight – capturing the drama and passion that defines this latest chapter for I See Stars.
The Wheel stands as a strong contender for one of 2025’s standout releases in the electronicore genre.
