Track Review: “Lucid Dreams” by Vanitas

In culinary circles they often say that the first bite is with the eye and its a saying that we often associate with the artwork in music. In the 90’s and early 2000’s when Roadrunner Records were Kings you could go into a record shop and if the band name and cover art was cool, their logo was the seal of approval that would entice you to buy something even without hearing it. One glance at the tarot card style artwork for new single “Lucid Dreams” from Vanitas, in purple and gold splendour and its similarity in style to that of the previous cut “Your Demise” and the subliminal verses begin to speak. They suggest that in a time of waterfall released singles leading to an EP or album, this could well be a second chapter from something far greater. Speculation fuelled by the artwork for the singles leading up to the arrival of the bands critically acclaimed sophomore EP “Chaos Theory” and of course an over stimulated brain due to far too much caffeine. However there is more. Dig a little deeper and you may note that as with “Your Demise”, “Lucid Dreams” features Orchestral programming by Matthew Jones of Dakesis at CapsaArx Studios with guitarist Mitchell Barlow mixing and mastering while Ethan Vega handled the vocal production. An award winning combination if there was an award for such things but another set of coincidences none the less. Could it be that both tracks were recorded in the same sessions? Only the Birmingham based Cinematic DJent pioneers themselves can tell us…

Where shall we start with this new piece of cryptic writing? The Periphery influence in the riffs during the introduction of “Lucid Dreams” is unmistakable and a pleasant surprise as Vanitas offer up more technical guitar work this time around with the verve and swagger of a band in their element and loving every second. Maintaining perpetual forward motion, as the song plays out it becomes clear that all the hallmark elements of their sound are not only present and correct but also enhanced by embellishments in the form of nuance. A bold, arena filling sing-a-long chorus is exceptional as Jade Maris once again demonstrates her prowess with beautiful clean vocals. While for the band that might be a staple or minimum requirement at this point, its something never to be taken for granted and an essential component in their sound. More recently the outfit have embraced harsh unclean vocals and here that ensures a bullish verse between those lush choruses, the contrast perfectly weighted in the mix. What’s new here vocally is a few lines of spoken word, something which works very well before breaking out into a passage of vocal layering that gives the impression of two vocalists where there is only one. Uncleans at the fore, cleans underneath and the pair dovetailing together like a match made in heaven. A soaring technical solo is nothing short of stunning, the kind of moment that instantly puts a smile on your face, before the final chorus which builds to a stylish cinematic crescendo. All of that is interwoven with Matthew Jones Orchestral programming which adds stardust, balanced so that it never overpowers any of the other instrumentation and yet giving the discerning listener another element of depth and texture. It sparkles like unearthed hidden treasure in the pale moon light, Jones unofficially the sixth member of the band, his contributions essential in their sonic creations… [9/10]

“Lucid Dreams” by Vanitas is out 2nd May 2025 and should be available alongside the rest of their discography over at bandcamp