Although only having three songs, Smakdab's In Dreams single CD is truly impressive. I've personally listened to some of their old (and good) material before, but these new three songs shows how much a band can evolve in a small period of time. Their new music turned out to be much more polished, with much less screams than their previous release (or at least what I know from it). Also, the nice incorporation of electronic beats in their new songs perhaps suggests in what direction the band intends to go; mixing electronic with the heaviness of metal music. It can sometimes be pretty annoying, that's true, but you end up getting used to it, due to the undeniable fact that it DOES work great in the sound that they're trying to develop for themselves. The truth is, Smakdab has evolved a lot. That single demonstrates it from start to finish. Alexis's voice is remarkable. It touches you inside, you listen hypnotized to every single delicate note that comes out of her mouth. Her guttural screams aren't bad, but are definitely unnecessary. With such a beautiful voice, I can see no reason why they even try to incorporate screams. Guitars are creative and versatile. They're also full of beautiful details that can pass unnoticed to someone who's not paying close attention to it. It's interesting to listen to how Alexis's remarkable melodic voice and Mick and Corey's aggressive guitars contrast each other. I really enjoy the bass. I personally don't play any instrument, so I don't know when the dude is a badass player or anything, but I get really happy when I find a bass player like Eric in a band, because his bass lines are extremely creative. It's not totally distant from the guitars, but it tries it's best to be. Drums are definitely a well kept secret of the band, I must say. Emerson, the drummer, definitely rules. His beats are totally intense, and you can feel he's beating his kit with pure emotion. Sincerely, it's a pity that this CD is only a 3 song single. All of the songs are amazing, but the second song, Souls Heart, definitely separates itself from the other two due to it's extreme intensity, yet commercial appeal. I can easily see this song played on radios here in Brazil, for instance, if they rework some aspects of it, like Alexis's screams. In fact that is something that should be considered by the band. Alexis screams, as I previously said, are extremely unnecessary and at times can really blow the song, especially now that the band has developed a more catchy, melodic, sound that is slowly getting away from the aggro-core style that previously caracterized their sound. I'm in no way saying that her screams suck or anything. What I'm trying to say here is that screams don't combine well with the band's vibe. This band's capacity and range is something rarely seen today in an indie band. What is so nice about Smakdab is that their sound pleases the heavy music fans, but still has that comercial touch that record labels want (or need). Smakdab's future is definitely bright, and they know it. The last sentence of their press kit says: "There is no limit for this band's potential. You have been formally warned." I make these words mine....
(4.5 / 5)