Dylan Thomas wrote, “Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
And while Dylan Thomas’ belief was likely that life is precious and should be fought for, Newcastle-based, Dayshifter have created their own version of “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night” with their album Hiraeth.
Instead of life is precious, the band openly and honestly state that mental health is precious. Instead of fighting against death, the band wrestles against the stigma that mental health discussion is taboo.
On Hiraeth, the band says,
Our goal with Hiraeth is to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage open communication. We hope to use our music as a platform to show listeners that they are not alone in their struggles and that there is always someone who understands how they feel.
Two bands came to mind when listening to Hiraeth for the first time – Sleep Token and Currents. The opening track, “Emerald Green” and title track, “Hiraeth” gave me musical Sleep Token vibes. Also adding to the vibe are the vocals in “Emerald Green” as they slip from soft clean vocals into that of harsher vocals. The heavier tracks on Hiraeth, have the similar epic wall of sound of Currents.
While Hiraeth may centre on anxiety, depression and mental health, the lyrics explore those topics through songs inspired by the darker moments of life, death, love, and loss.
Those who have or are battling their own mental health issues, will connect with Dayshifer’s lyrics on a visceral level. They’re rooted in the reality of what it’s like to have mental health battles. The band is not afraid to confront their inner demons so their fans or those that listen have a weapon, the music, to confront their own.
Speaking of music, each song echoes and reverberates with blistering guitar riffs, wonderful bombastic blast beats, and menacing basslines. The music is sure to make any metal heart explode.
With a debut album, a band hopes to make a mark and leave a lasting impression. The debut album, Hiraeth, from Dayshifter not only pulls on the heart, but through the ferociously intimate lyrics and soul crushing music, it macerates the stigma that mental health is unspeakable.
The only welcoming stigmas that are left is Dayshifter has left a lasting impression on the ears and hearts of the listener and made their mark on the metal world.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Holy Ghost”, “Rain (Forever)”, “Rosé”, “Buried in Grey”
FAVOURITE TRACKS: “Holy Ghost”, “Buried in Grey”
