Introducing a conceptual rock project written over several decades, with a fine display of powerful songwriting at the forefront – elevated by an intricate fusion of organic and electronic sound design.
JGeir is the creative behind Death By Wire, an artist fusing nostalgic musicianship with modern technology, resulting in an AI-rock explosion that gifts plenty of space for exploring this unique concept and story.
Shattered Reality tells the tale of a man whom awakens to discover his memory is lost. He’s uncertain of his situation, but shaken by an intense feeling that something terrible has occurred. He soon finds out his girlfriend has been killed, and worries that he may have committed the crime himself.
What follows are eight original songs, finely produced and blending those traits of human expression with electronic design, for a captivating set of scenes and stories that are aptly cinematic and immersive.
Olivia’s Song is the opener and is all of this, a huge and anthemic electronic rock track, with a compelling story at the helm. We’re intrigued and impressed, and as we move into the slick riffs and melancholic vibe of Echoes in the Night, though something more progressive and emotive takes over, the story and characters continue to hold tight to our attention.
Musically, Shattered Reality is brilliantly engaging and enjoyable, the project blends slick guitar solos and powerful structuring, with AI vocals that boldly deliver the sentiments of each chapter. Meanwhile that versatility is a key strength, giving the sense of this being something of a greatest hits collection, as well as a clearly well-rooted concept album. The lyrics keep you gripped, the music enchants and moves you, offering a creative balance between hard rock, power rock, electronic rock and driving ballad musicality, throughout the evocative layers and poetic references of these eight songs.
Fragments of You is beautiful, a well-placed moment of soul-rock reflection and depth. Then in stark contrast, Unravelling Truth hits with a progressive metal set-up and soaring guitar solos, for a mysterious scene that begins in a quiet room; where the details of these events are about to be revealed.
Despite the creativity of each new track, the music consistently contrasts moments of contemplation and calm, with those that hit with a near-euphoric, uplifting and anthemic sense of energy and presence. Consider the outright musical skill and breathy poetry of The Truth Unmasked, or the mellow power and vocal weight of the title track Shattered Reality – another poetic and enthralling moment.
For Pieces Align, the images and ideas captivate as ever, and something like early 2000s new-metal takes hold, before we meet the faster-paced devotion and unmissable ending that is Conclusion.
It’s always refreshing to hear a full-length project that’s been purposefully and creatively compiled – crafted to tell a story, or present a journey that requires you to immerse yourself entirely in the sound.
Shattered Reality is something of an audio cinema experience, loaded with huge rock tracks and lashings of emotion, built with skill and care in equal parts, and the music is mighty in light of this.
Download or stream Shattered Reality. Find Death By Wire on Facebook & their Website.
