A fantastic display in poignant, darkly atmospheric songcraft, Alone is the debut full-length album from Denver artist Neo Dimes, the moniker of musician Stephen Edmunds. The record melds alternative rock energy with industrial darkwave undertones, directly challenging digital-age alienation, technological dependence, and systemic societal manipulation through a raw, human lens.
“Beasts” is a visceral opener that fuses relevant societal perspectives with an evolving industrial soundscape, spanning from starry-eyed synth dreaminess to sturdy guitar distortion. An intensely clanging rhythmic presence retains a consistent undercurrent, present as haunting vocals open in perceiving “outside” as “a world that holds me under.” Depictions of putting forth strong efforts to connect, and still ending up “alone,” invigorate as the swells of distortion enter, culminating in an artful “look now, you’re the beast” proclamation. The album kicks off excellently with “Beasts,” a moody and melodic stunner that thematically captures a struggling to coexist within a dystopic, post-capitalist world.
Arriving next, “Angels” furthers the sense of isolation in its opening line — “walk alone, reflections in glass” — and progresses into insightful commentary on an ever-watching society. Shades of Depeche Mode show enjoyably in the verses, the “I’ve got angels walking over me” line maneuvering from late-night electronic intrigue to more rousing rock heights. A more anxious feeling is conveyed as the track expands, with the vocals admitting “I can’t sleep while they’re following” and how “they’re listening still.” The track plays like an interesting take on governmental surveillance, framing their watchful eyes as helpful, like the guiding light of angels, when in reality they play as a domineering force of containment and erosion of privacy.
Societal critiques continue on “Don’t Think,” whose biting lyricism exude a scathing charisma on sheep-like followers. “Don’t think in the end times now,” the haunting chorus lets out, conveying how the elite are entirely content with an uneducated, uninformed populace — easier to manipulate. “I can never think as one, let me stay in the crowd,” the vocals consume within imagery of a burning world; this track is especially gripping in portraying a world continuing to spiral further down, into an oozing mass of compliance rather than beautiful individuality. Later, a track like “How to Love” excels in its vulnerable state, beckoning to “show me how to live” amidst glistening post-punk guitar twangs and spacey synths. Accounts of “holding on tight, all through the night” enamor in their perseverant power, showing a decisiveness to keep pushing forth despite a society that pushes back.
Album finale “Dear Ghosts” is another standout, compelling with its lushly absorbing opening strings and generally more delicate atmospheric construction. “Dear ghost, I hear your call, entombed in every psalm,” a dreamy vocal presence ensues, as warming guitar distortion and heartfelt strings intertwine. Gorgeous synth arps and escalated vocals dazzle across its second half, carrying into impactful lyricism that acknowledges dark worldly reckonings, while still suggesting glimmers of hope in renewal: “Hopeless heart, torn apart / Through this end is a new start.” Full of emotionally memorable songwriting with dark, industrial soundscapes, Alone is a thoroughly successful full-length from Neo Dimes.
