Combining elements of dark pop and synth wave into an industrial sound, Your Inland Empire’s forthcoming release sounds like a graveyard gothic rave.

The opening song “Grinding” showcases Stéphane Azam’s deep and at times comforting vocal style. A baritone reminiscent of voices like Peter Steele (Type O Negative). The first few tracks seem to sit in a fog of danceable yet mellow atmosphere that warms you with the vocals yet keeps you chilled in the mournful environment.

“Edge of Perfection” and “Venom” came as a surprise to hear the overall heaviness of the tracks, both instrumentally and vocally. It became apparent here that this album is not just a goth rave but one that can rock as well. At times the album would feel like a funeral march towards the grave with its somber rainy feeling. It gave the sense of grey clouds crying rain to a soaked earth.

The instrumentation on the album is primarily synth, drums and vocals, but there’s also a lot of guitar on “Your Inland Empire” as well, not so much in the way of guitar solos, but in the ambient textural fashion that adds a certain heaviness, which in my opinion makes the album a bit more accessible to people that might not listen to the synth genres as much.

“Sulfer” and “I’ll Be Your Night” are both melodic songs with catchy melodies that make the album memorable because of its distinct phrasing.

The track “Chemicals” is a perfect reflection of the entire album, with its crushingly heavy guitar riff, then a more industrial section, and back and forth between the parts. This represents the album because almost every track seems to follow that progression in its own memorable way. Then ending on the track “I’ll Be Your Night” which in my opinion didn’t feel like a big finale to the album, but maybe that’s not what this type of music is about. This isn’t an epic that needs a grand conclusion, it’s more of an industrial, synth wave, heavy album that takes listeners on a journey through a mellow and dark place, and leaves you there in silence to appreciate what you’ve just been through.