Review: Imagine Dragons new single Eyes Closed

Imagine Dragons indie Review Eyes Closed photo credit Eric Ray Davidson

Posted On May 6, 2024

Despite their polarising reputation, there’s no downplaying electronic-rock figurehead Imagine Dragons’ immediate rise in popularity, tracing back to 2012’s Night Visions with singles such as Radioactive and Demons catapulting them into stardom.

Under the surface….we are all struggling

Let’s address both perspectives. To the die hards, the modulated opening lyric, “I could do this with my eyes closed,” is a grim omen for what’s to come. As frontman Dan Reynolds states, the song is about “wanting to be powerful (…) but under the surface (…) we are all struggling…” But gone are the heavy drums and operatic nature that could accentuate this, or even the folky undertones integrated in their later work. Instead it may come across as bland and too similar to everything else on mainstream pop radio.

To the die hards, the modulated opening lyric, “I could do this with my eyes closed,” is a grim omen for what’s to come

But here’s the thing. Imagine Dragons have always had a pop sound, especially for their harshest critics; with music more suitable for car commercials than anything close to ‘real’ rock.So to collab with an artist like J Balvin (who, as a side bar, does a serviceable job in the designated second-verse-reserved-for-rapper spot, but is ultimately inconsequential) doesn’t seem out of place.

that power that made songs such as Believer and Radioactive insanely magnetic

They’re also a band with notable electronic influences, and it’s definitely present here, with the dubstep sound that drones in the post-chorus. Reynolds’ vocals, particularly in the lyrics, “Lock me up in a cage/just throw away the key, don’t worry ‘bout me,” still maintains that power that made songs such as Believer and Radioactive insanely magnetic.

Honestly, excluding the rap interlude, this doesn’t deviate away from what’s already within the alternative sphere. The first verse, with the almost spoken word delivery (“I’m back from the dead, from the back of my head)” seems so reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots. Take the second verse of their single Ride for example, and you can connect the dots. It’s engaging in TwentyOne Pilots or even Shinedown’s material, and it also works well here.

This is bound to not please everyone, but neither does Imagine Dragons. For those whosepreferences veer closer to pop to EDM while still maintaining some love for alternative rock, this is a song you’ll want to put on rotation from now on.

Review by Ameena Ceesay

Photo credit Eric Ray Davidson

Written by admin

Related Posts

Gewalt are back

Gewalt are back

After receiving the unexpected news that their beloved bass player had decided to quit the band, Gewalt are ploughing on: The third single off their album, "Schwarz Schwarz," dropped on the 27th of September 2024, right before their new album "Doppeldenk" is about to...

read more
Indie Newcomers Atomic Lobster Speak Out

Indie Newcomers Atomic Lobster Speak Out

Atomic Lobster is a band from the lively Stuttgart music scene, consisting of Ella Estrella Tischa (guitar/vocals), Daniel Herrmann (bass/vocals) and Armando Bleher (drums). Inspired by greats such as PJ Harvey and Radiohead, they have developed their own unmistakable...

read more

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *