It is a kind of pleasure to follow the development of a band in real-time and Haus of Sound may have found the breakthrough on their way with the song Mirage. This Seattle outfit has made a daring departure out of the ska-punk madness of Anxiety and the pop-punk power of Pain in My Eyes to venture into a darker more cinematic direction – and it works.
The first thing that you can hear is the powerful interaction between the melodic voice of Gabrielle Burton and the reflective rap attitude of Dex Morgenstern. This is not a mere gimmick but a real discussion between the two views that are grappling against the same internal struggles. The tension and release of the call-and-response format are nostalgic and innovative at the same time.
The production is worth of special mention in terms of its stratified nature. The deep sounding big synths and rapid-fire guitar riffs leave a rich sound palate, and the heavy bass lays a ground that is grounding yet atmospheric. It has the early-days Linkin Park and Evanescence elements in it, but the band has not just aped the sound, they have adapted it to their own perspective.
The reason why the desert metaphor is especially effective in the story is that it is used to discuss other aspects of disillusion and self-deception. The song itself is like a meditation on ambition and regret and it is veiled within a brooding yet cathartic sound. It has the emotional weight that is not superficial angst.
It is clear that this new band is not a tribute band anymore, this is their voice as new artists, and they have made something that is a tribute to the nu-metal style and at the same time something new. Mirage is an assured move by a band that no longer wish to simply re-create the past they are remodelling it to make it their own.
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