#Starset The Music Enthusiast

[miela]

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.”── Edgar Allen Poe

��✧ WRITINGS ✧ PLAYLISTS ✧ MOODBOARDS ✧ LIBRARY ✧ GALLERY ✧ GRAPHICS {SOON} ✧

dividers by cafekitsune

✧ 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐋𝐘 ✧

✧ reading: crimson rivers, bizzarestars / cadence of part-time poets, motzwolo

✧ audio reading: all the young dudes, mskingbean89

✧ listening to: {message from the clergy} - ghost

✧ watching: bridgerton (season i), the boys (season 4)

✧ writing: shattered memories 

✧ playing: hogwarts legacy (gryffindor run)

✧ researching: greek mythology, goth subculture

✧ 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐌𝐄 ✧

my name is miela [mee-EL-Ah] but you can call me mae! ✧ aries, slytherin, infp-t, chaotic neutral, the helper ✧ i’m secretly a fox ✧ i am 28 years old {minors may follow, but dni in dms} ✧ {she/they} genderfae demigirl ✧ sapphic, panromantic, asexual ✧ biracial latina ✧ pagan-align spiritualist ✧ renaissance darling ✧ mythology enthusiast ✧ fantasy and sci-fi lover ✧ theatre kid ✧ bookworm ✧ gamer ✧ poetic artist ✧ musical storyteller ✧ creative writer ✧ graphic designer ✧ oc creator ✧ spider & snake tendencies ✧ tea and coffee connoisseur ✧ caffeine consumer ✧ alt fairy ✧ dark whimsigoth butterfly and elegant romantic goth luna moth ✧ nature lover, but will fight and flight when seeing a bug ✧ gave myself copper hair once and i never went back ✧ fangirl since 1996 ✧ spotify playlist queen ✧ pinterest moodboard goddess ✧ chronic tummy ache, headache and body pain survivor ✧ full bio here 

✧ 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐒 ✧ 

marauders / hogwarts 1970s ✧ spiderman/spiderverse ✧ sailor moon ✧ atiny ✧ swiftie ✧ bvb army ✧ the dragon prince ✧ avatar: the last airbender ✧ shxtou guildie ✧ arcane/league of legends ✧ genshin impact ✧ demon slayer ✧ stranger things ✧ dungeons and dragons ✧ superheroes ✧ alt music ✧ kpop ✧ and many, many more!

✧ 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂 ✧ 

I listen to all types of music. literally anything and everything from around the world. here are some of the artists and groups i listen to to get an idea ✧ lindsey stirling ✧ ateez ✧ dreamcatcher ✧ one ok rock ✧ rolling quartz ✧ conquer divide ✧ starset ✧ black veil brides ✧ poppy ✧ hatsune miku ✧ paramore ✧ loveless ✧ honey revenge ✧ good kid ✧ conan gray ✧ olivia rodrigo ✧ coldplay ✧ aurora ✧ aidoneus ✧ evanescence ✧ meet me @ the altar ✧ waterparks ✧ ghost ✧ switchblade symphony ✧ banshee ✧ kordhell ✧ panic priest ✧ babychaos ✧ taylor swift ✧ hozier ✧ skott ✧ the oh hellos ✧  kero kero bonito ✧ gorillaz ✧ maneskin ✧ fleetwood mac ✧  billy idol �� nova twins ✧ odetari ✧ scarlxrd ✧ scene queen ✧ fka rayne ✧ upsahl ✧ twenty one pilots ✧ bibi ✧ jackson wang ✧ astari nite ✧ modern alibi ✧ muse ✧ pvris and many, many more.

✧ 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐒 ✧

 lily evans {crimson rivers} ✧ regulus black {crimson rivers} ✧ pandora lestrange-rosier {marauders} ✧ robin buckley {stranger things} ✧ eddie munson {stranger things} ✧ gorou {genshin impact} ✧ venti {genshin impact} ✧ denki {chainsaw man}  ✧ usagi {sailor moon} ✧ minako {sailor moon} ✧ claudia {the dragon prince} ✧ zenitsu {demon slayer} ✧ eloise bridgerton {bridgerton} ✧ lexi howard {euphoria} ✧ {more to come}

✧ 𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒 ✧

{more will be added as time goes on}

✧ asks {all those who wonder}: ask mae ✧ mutuals {fellow garden dwellers}: moots ✧ music {what birds whisper}: mae’s playlist ✧ writing {ink-stained dagger}: mae writes ✧ artworks {color-stained wands}: mae draws ✧ moodboards {petals of a flower}: mae’s pov ✧ original characters {born from the storm cauldron}: mae’s ocs ✧ thoughts {brain flutters}: mae speaks, mae thinks, mae yaps

[acldcoated]

>welcome to my artpage (pinned post)

>MY NAME IS GELEGENHEIT.

aka acidcoated/acldcoated/eternalexpansion

name is shortened to «gel» or «gelya»

links:

@/acidcoated on telegram, tiktok and insta

>pronouns

they/it/he

agender/aroace

not a minor btw, and i may post/reblog mildly suggestive/gruesome content so beware

english is my second language. sorry for any grammar errors

continuing on.

>who am i?

>beginner programmer, artist(currently working on a visual novel called “the laniakea project”), beginner musician

(however, here i post my art only w/ some reposts)

>space, sciences and computers enjoyer, HUGE MUSIC LOVER, brainrotted beyond repair, transhumanist and sci-fi enthusiast. also my fav color is obviously green lmao

continuing on.

>fandoms

>project moon (mostly lor and lobcorp)

>reverse1999

>detroit become human

>arknights

>fnaf

>doom

>content smp

>ultrakill

>ihnmaims

>and a bajillion other stuff

fav charas:

>netzach (projmoon)

>voyager(r1999)

>schwarz(arknights)

>diansu (csmp)

>samuel hayden (doom)

>gabriel (ultrakill)

continuing on.

>music interests

fav bands:

>starset (this band owns me i’m obsessed)/downplay/mnqn

>celldweller/circle of dust/etc

>perturbator

>death grips

>slipknot

>blue stahli

>motionless in white

>set it off

>missio

>in this moment

>seahaven

>nine inch nails

>grandson

>slowdive

>and one

other bands i like:

>unlike pluto, crown the empire, bring me the horizon, babymetal, idkhow, radiohead, fangclub, korn, sick puppies, nürnberg, ruin of romantics, molchat doma, limp bizkit, will wood, tu333, machine girl, ayesha erotica, kim petras, lady gaga, rammstein, reach, solence, awaawa/mili, carpenter brut, dynatron, oomph!, chase icon, half • alive, romes, god’s computer, type o negative, lana del rey, misfits AND A BAJILLION OTHER BANDS IM A REAL MUSIC ENJOYER YEAH

>THAT’S ALL. ILY.

[wish-i-were-heather]

me. eunoia. she/they. asexual biromantic. writer. greek mythology nerd. etymology enthusiast. wannabe photographer. poet. pianist. cabin 7. slytherin. icarus apologist. true crime lover. bookworm. estoy aprendiendo español. I AM SPIDERMAN. tea > coffee. spotify girly.

fandoms. the inheritance games. arcane. shatter me. a good girl's guide to murder. dead boy detectives. percy jackson/heroes of olympus. heathers the musical. the folk of the air. arc of a scythe. epic the musical. the darkest minds. the good place. the maze runner. hamilton. marvel cinematic universe. stranger things. call of duty. the hunger games. probably a lot more that i'm forgetting.

music. conan gray. hozier. the arctic monkeys. olivia rodrigo. lana del rey. billie eilish. sabrina carpenter. mitski. tv girl. stephan sanchez. paris paloma. starset.

chaos. don't ask about the cookie monster. I AM GRAYSON DAVENPORT HAWTHORNE'S ONE AND ONLY WIFE NO IF ANDS OR BUTS HE IS MINE. heather and lacy's #1 enemy. i promise being a redhead isn't my whole personality. i IRONICALLY use brainrot. i change my theme a lot, don't get attached. GO TO SLEEP. odds are i probably haven't eaten yet today. i tend to overshare.

other blogs. @xxcxelum. @only-a-moment-ago. @eun-liveblogs. @freaknoia. @therealgraysonhawthorne + 14 more.

mutuals. are my best friends in the world even if we've never spoken. send an ask, dm me (though i dont often use tumblr dms just because i dont like them that much), or just start a convo. i love talking!! mutuals can also dm for my instagram and discord.

tags. random: #eunoia annoys '♡' ― mutuals: #moots 『🎕』 ― music: #headphones ♫ ― asks: #who asked ౨ৎ ― fics: #mightier than your sword𓂃🖋 ― edits: #in my editor era! ༉‧₊˚.

[josephinegerardywriter]

Character Introduction

Royal Sabourin

“It’s only fitting for you to follow the rules of the game.”

WIP: Puppet Kingdom

-----

Theme: It Has Begun - Starset

-----

Pronouns: He / Him

Age: 20

Appearance: He has dark brown skin and hair that’s styled short on one side and comes to a long curly front on the other. One ear is pierced with a line of stud earrings. 

Traits: Full of Words, Loyal, Calculated, Enthusiastic, Confident

-----

Random Facts:

He carries a thesaurus on him at all times

When talking, he loves randomly omitting normal words for less used synonyms

He collects all sorts of clothes and has an extensive wardrobe

He loves giving compliments and gushing about his friends

-----

I can’t quite tell his backstory because of spoilers, so I will show when we first meet him instead. The scene will be below the cut and in Althaia’s POV.

-----

“Royal!” Novalie calls. The band has stopped for a pause between music and her voice slices through the room, which is quiet for its hostess.

I give her my best look of betrayal as she repeats her call.

In a second, a young man, presumably older than me by a few years, traipses not indelicately towards us. He has dark brown skin and eyes. His hair, a shade darker, is styled shortly on one side and long and curly on the other, coming to a loose point above his cheekbone. On one ear is an identical line of silver stud earrings. His suit is the color of night sky blue with silver leaves sewn into it in a wild pattern.

“If it isn’t my darling, favorite, quintessential courtier,” he grins, waving an arm and bowing deeply.

You’ve gotta be kidding. I raise my eyebrows while Novalie just chuckles. “You say that to everyone.”

He shrugs, an easy smile on his lips. “How can I help, madam?”

“It just so happens that dear Mademoiselle Althaia here-” she unceremoniously pushes me forward, “-Is without a partner for this dance. Perhaps there is a way you can remedy that?” 

“Whoa, whoa, wait!” I speak up, stepping back. “We don’t even know each other!”

The man’s eyes brighten as if he’s close to laughing. “You may call me Royal, if it bothers you.”

-----

[lettersofsky]

For the "Get to know the Author": all of them. Every single one. Because I adore you and love knowing more about you.

Get to Know You AuthorYou asked for it! And now have a lot of rambly answers! Under a read-more line because I’m still a decent person. 25′s probably longer than it should be but I just love that scene, I love it so much.

1) Isthere a story you’re holding off on writing for some reason?

The Later DEEPGROUND AUthing I wanna do; it’s got all the notes and plot points down include quickrough drafts of some ‘drama’ scenes, I’m just not really ready to start it yet?I’ll get there eventually though! There’s also my own thing which exists onlyin concept design and small character pieces and that I’m far too willing toadmit that I’m not ready to start yet.

2) Whatwork of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

I tend not to getembarrassed over my things because even if they’re not the best thing, I’ve atleast been able to get the idea down or I’ve tried something different aboutthe thing so they’re all experience and the chance for constructive criticism.

3) Whatorder do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenesfirst? something else?

It varies depending onwhat I’m doing; like some things I’ll start with a specific scene and thenwrite the build up for it, others I’ll write a scene I’m looking forward too,the afterwards of it and then the start, others will be chronological. The besttimes are when I write out notes for the thing then I can work out of orderwhile retaining all the few key points that I wanna touch on and where they’d fallin the timeline of the story.

4) Favoritecharacter you’ve written

Genesis is such adramatic, lit nerd and I love him. Writing him is fun because he’s just thisbig ball of conflicting thoughts and contradictions and I absolutely love him,especially the way I try to write him; kind of a more mature, softer, ‘realizedthat I’m never going to achieve this thing that’s completely out of my leaguebut hey! That doesn’t mean I don’t have achievements to be proud of!’ He’s alsoreally easy to angst!

5) Characteryou were most surprised to end up writing

I’d never thought that I’dwrite Rosso! Nobody cares to write about the Tsviets! But I am because she’s my murder girlfriend and I absolutely adoreher! She’s very much a femdom whenever I write her, it’s a thing

6) Somethingyou would go back and change in your writing that it’s too late/complicated tochange now

I don’t know? Because if Ireally have a problem with something then I can go back and redo it, which Ihave done in the past (not for anything I’ve posted here, but other things).

7) Whenasked, are you embarrassed or enthusiastic to tell people that you write?

I’m neutral about it, Ithink? Not a lot of people around me would think to ask and the one’s thatwould already know because I’ve shoved things in their face to tell me if the wordsmake sense.

8) Favoritegenre to write

I love writing fluff! Cuteslice-of-life, romance stuff! Warm feelings in my chest as I break my face fromsmiling at my own stuff! Ecto’s probably calling me a liar right now because ofall the angsty stuff I write…

9) What,if anything, do you do for inspiration?

OTP Prompts are mysaviour, I would be left with character-centric things exploring ideas I haveabout them otherwise (read Truths and Crownless)

10) Write in silence or with background noise? with people or alone?

Definitely backgroundnoise, I usually put on some music (I’ve been listening to Starset and NWTB alot lately) or a video (I like Plague of Gripes stuff, he goes a lot intocharacter development and worldbuilding). I can write around people, but I preferto be alone when I write, mostly because I kind of end up roleplaying thecharacters a bit, especially when I’m stuck on dialogue.

11) What aspect of your writing do you think has most improved sinceyou started writing?

I’d like to say that I canwrite dialogue better now but I’m not sure about that. I’ve definitely improvedwith my NSFW pieces, they’re apparently decent now!

12) Your weaknesses as an author

Dialogue is difficult. Plotsare difficult. A Decent Ending is difficult. Titles are hell.

13) Your strengths as an author

Hyper fixation on things Ilike. Willingness to completely abandon all of fanon to run with a characterizationI like. I can write dumb idiots being cute real good!

14) Do you make playlists for your current wips?

Not often, there are a fewthat I have but not many.

15) Why did you start writing?

It was a way suggested tome to help deal with depression by a councillor; they probably never expectedme to write about… what I currently do.

16) Are there any characters who haunt you?

Ravus Nox Flueret. He’s myabsolute favourite thing from FFXV and Crownless is my longest single thing fora reason! He just keeps creeping into my other FFXV stuff! Like an AU I’ve beenbouncing around, started one way and then I wondered what he’d be doing in itand the whole thing shifted to include him in the main narrative.

17) If you could give your fledgling author self any advice, whatwould it be?

Stop thinking and worryingabout the thing and just do them, it’s fine if not a lot of people see thestuff you’re doing someone definitely is and it’s probably put a smile on theirface and that’s good.

18) Were there any works you read that affected you so much that itinfluenced your writing style? what were they?

I don’t think so? Maybeand I just haven’t realized it? I used to have a very Victorian-style ofwriting (or so I was told) but I might have lost that somewhere along the way.

19) When it comes to more complicated narratives, how do you keeptrack of outlines, characters, development, timeline, ect.?

A document absolutely filledwith the information; that’s how I did it with my Bloodborne AU, just some 40pages of characterizations, backstory, weapons and their backstories, acomplete timeline of events and things to touch upon in the works. But yes, foranything that’s large and complex then I’ll just have a separate document (or two) tohave up that has all my ideas; for example, TSoaF, my Dragon AU, has the mainstory file, the info file, the draconics file – with all their designs, characterizationsand backstories, and a predecessor fic – which is only dot-points of plotpoints and will probably remain that way.

20) Do you write in long sit-down sessions or in little spurts?

Both, considering my moodand what I’m working on. If it’s a part I’m feeling up to like my smut bender lastweek then I can do the long sit-down, other times I can’t sit still and haveto get up every few minutes just to move.

21) What do you think when you read over your older work?

It pretty much boils down too,‘Oh! Look at my OTP being cute together! *heart eyes* I love them!’ or ‘… Oh,no! Why did I write that?! Now they’re crying and I’m crying and, god damnitme!’ It’s a fifty-fifty chance.

22) Are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write?

Some of the more extremekinks or fetishes maybe? Other than that, I can’t really think of anything.

23) Any obscure life experiences that you feel have helped yourwriting?

Unfortunately, myexperience as a nurse, both in age care and in the neurological section of ahospital, have not helped me with my writing at all. Damn you, four years of specializededucation!

24) Have you ever become an expert on something you previously knewnothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

Not an expert, but I ammore versed in kink after writing for Kinktober than I ever thought I would be.I also looked up numerous method of torture for one of my Bloodborne fics, thatwas pretty fun.

25) Copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’reparticularly proud of

Genesis had liftedhimself to a seated position and had dropped his head into his hands, hisshoulders shaking with soft sobs. | Cloud dropped down to his knees next to theother, gazing at him in concern. “Genesis? What’s wrong?” He asked, voiceclearly distressed. | “I can’t,” Genesis whispered, voice thick with emotion. “I can’t do this anymore.” | “Genesis,”Cloud coaxed, pressing closer to the other man. “Talk to me.” | “I’ve tried so hard,” Genesis stressed, lifting his gaze to stare atCloud with wet eyes. “But I just can’t handle this anymore Cloud.” | Cloud didn’t understand what theother meant by that but whatever it was, it must have been important to causethis much distress in the other man. “Tell me about it,” he coaxed in a softvoice. “Let’s talk about it.” | Genesis shook his head sharply, a harsh noiseleaving his lips. “I’m trying to make it up,” Genesis told him, stressing hiswords in a desperate tone. “But I can’t handle having you like this anymore.”| Cloud was stunned silent, staring at Genesis’ face. | “And I know I don’t deserve to be picky,” Genesis continued, reachingout to grip Cloud’s arms in a tight grip. “You’ve been so kind to me, eventhough I don’t deserve it after I threw you away.” | Cloud felt hisbreath quickening as Genesis continued to speak, his eyes widening as he beganto realize what the other was talking about. | “I promised myself that I’d takeanything you gave me when I saw you out in the wastes. I promised that I wouldn’t interferewith your life any more than I already had.” Cloud swallowed heavily, his chestheavy as he continued to listen to the other’s ramblings. “But I can’t deal with this, I can’t handle you looking at me like I don’t mean anything to you.” | Cloudfound a harsh noise falling from his throat, interrupting Genesis’ ramblings.He dropped his own head into his hands, smothering the noises falling from hismouth. | A wounded noise left Genesis’ throat as he took Cloud’s face in hishands. “Look, I’m still ruining things,” he pressed his forehead to Cloud’s astears started leaking from his eyes once again. “I just keep hurting you, precious.” | Cloud shook his own head softly, pullingaway from the other’s hand to stare at his face, admitting in a soft, fragilevoice. “I had Mako Poisoning,” Genesis stiffened, freezing at his words. “I, Iforgot everything. I don’t remember ever meetingyou before.” | Another wounded noise left the other man before he was wrappedin a warm embrace and pulled into the other’s space.

I’m also really proud of AnOld Hurt (a KH fic) in general. I just really love how it came out and how Iwrote Xemnas in it, it’s really great.

[readerwatch]

Introducing: Mod Kris

Salutations, fellow Overwatch enthusiasts! I'm one of the new mods on the blog, and I figured I might as well introduce myself properly and say a few things.

I play OW on the PC, and just got the game recently (I've had it three weeks or so) and I main Reaper. Probably Sombra as well, though I tend to switch it up a bit.

Favorite OW characters in general would have to be Reaper, Sombra, Mercy, McCree, and Hanzo, but not in a particular order.

My favorite game(s) would probably have to be the Jak and Daxter trilogy. As much as I love Overwatch, those boys will always have a place in my heart.

I sadly can't choose between a favorite movie. My most watched consist of Logan, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and maybe Inception.

I love animals. I have a cat named Devreu it's weird to pronounce, I know and a yorkie named Daisy. They both like to cuddle a lot.

Favorite band would have to be Starset; I love them sososososo so much. I'm actually planning to go to college for music production, or anything music related; perhaps I might even go for theatre. I'm a huge creative arts nerd, and music could probably be considered my passion.

My main blog is @mainlys though I usually just reblog Star Wars/Marvel/AOT stuff on there. If you wanna talk, just shoot me a message! I don't bite.

(Edit: I wanted to change my name bc why the hell not. Sounds better too lol)

[rockrevoltmagazine]

VATTICA Release Official Music Video for "Criminal"

[embedplusvideo height=”253″ width=”450″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/2PpYk4Q” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/AdyrFKN9_3o?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=AdyrFKN9_3o&width=450&height=253&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep6795″ /]

Hollywood based Alternative Rock Band VATTICA has released the official music video for their single, “Criminal.” Directed by Prentice and filmed and edited on location in Los Angeles, CA, “Criminal” is a direct criticism of the current political turmoil in American politics.

“The word ‘Criminal’ really describes this administration perfectly”, says Alexander (vocals, guitar). “From the way they ‘won’ the election, to their active and purposeful targeting of the Latinx, BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities, to their enthusiastic and unapologetic support of blatantly racist, sexist and misogynistic rhetoric, to their ravenous erosion of any laws that restrict pollution, they are the epitome of corrupt. They are dangerous and need to all be voted out. For this video we tried to focus on the fact that this is all really happening now, this isn’t some distant historical event, and that it’s up to all of us to correct the course that these liars and thieves, these fascists, have set our country on.”

Stream / Download: Spotify | iTunes | Amazon

  VATTICA is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in early 2014, the band quickly built an impressive local following in Southern California, including on the infamous Sunset Strip, performing at legendary venues such as The Viper Room, The Roxy Theatre, The Echo and The Troubadour. VATTICA’s bombastic and energetic live show caught the attention of Another Century/Century Media Records, who promptly offered the band a recording contract.

VATTICA then set about refining their sound, which quickly coalesced into an arena-ready style reminiscent of alternative chart-toppers such as Muse, Starset, PVRIS, Our Lady Peace and Imagine Dragons.

Next, VATTICA entered the studio to begin recording their debut album at The Mix Room in Burbank, CA with veteran producer Ben Grosse (Breaking Benjamin, Daughtry, Filter, Red, Starset, Vertical Horizon, Third Eye Blind, Thirty Seconds To Mars).

In 2017 VATTICA finished their debut album, entitled “WE SURVIVE”. At the same time, Another Century was absorbed by Sony RED Music which ultimately resulted in VATTICA deciding to part ways with the label. VATTICA then joined forces with new management and released their first single, “Remember To Breathe”, on their own label in May 2018.

“Remember To Breathe” premiered on ALT105.3 (KITS) (and has been added to rotation on the station’s local music show SOUNDCHECK), as well as the iTunes “Alternative Music” page. It has also made it into Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” algorithm, amassing over 60k+ plays to date. The lyric video for “Remember To Breathe” received over 10k+ views on its first day and was promptly picked up by the popular YouTube channel spaceuntravel, where it has amassed over 40K views.

Connect with VATTICA: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

VATTICA Release Official Music Video for “Criminal” was originally published on RockRevolt Mag

[testingb-log]

Introducing: Mod Swagi

Salutations, fellow Overwatch enthusiasts! I’m one of the new mods on the blog, and I figured I might as well introduce myself properly and say a few things.

I play OW on the PC, and just got the game recently (I’ve had it three weeks or so) and I main Reaper. Probably Sombra as well, though I tend to switch it up a bit.

Favorite OW characters in general would have to be Reaper, Sombra, Mercy, McCree, and Hanzo, but not in a particular order.

My favorite game(s) would probably have to be the Jak and Daxter trilogy. As much as I love Overwatch, those boys will always have a place in my heart.

I sadly can’t choose between a favorite movie. My most watched consist of Logan, The Dark Knight, Interstellar, and maybe Inception.

I love animals. I have a cat named Devreu it’s weird to pronounce I know and a yorkie named Daisy. They both like to cuddle a lot

Favorite band would have to be Starset; I love them sososososo so much. I’m actually planning to go to college for music production, or anything music related; perhaps I might even go for theatre. I’m a huge creative arts nerd, and music could probably be considered my passion.

My main blog is @mainlys though I usually just reblog Star Wars/Marvel/AOT stuff on there. If you wanna talk, just shoot me a message! I don’t bite

[themusicenthusiast]

Monday, February 6th, 2017 – Starset Explores Their Creative Depths During Thrilling Sold-out Dallas Demonstration

Starset wasted no time hitting the road in support of their sophomore release, Vessels (out via Razor & Tie), the band kicking off their first ever headline tour in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio on the day the record dropped. That was about two weeks before the band rolled into Dallas for their date at the famous Trees. A Monday night would be challenging for many bands, particularly the ones that are still working on carving out their place in the world, though Starset’s heavy touring as a support band coupled with their many festival appearances have apparently paid off. The festival environment is the only one I had every caught the electronic rock/alt-rock band in, and in such a setting it’s hard to actively gauge just how many people are legitimate fans or if they’re just enjoying the lesser known acts as they wait for the top tier talent to take the stages. Clearly, they have won over a great deal of supporters over the past couple of years, because a line stretched well outside the door to Trees and around the side of the building. That was about 7:30, half an hour after the doors were scheduled to have opened. The turnout was certainly impressive, the inside already being quite full at that early hour as patrons continued to file in until Trees was at capacity. Dallas’ own Awake in Theory had the privilege of kicking off the night, the rock group delivering the most solid show I’ve seen them do over the few years I’ve been a fan. They brought their A game in order to compete with the touring talent they were getting to share the stage with and it showed, the near 30-minutes they got being as excellent as possible. That meant they also needed to streamline their set and they worked in the strongest songs they had, the band constantly working to pump up the spectators, who they left cheering and singing their praises.

Gemini Syndrome kicked things up further, truly getting everyone energized as they had much of the sea of people singing along to what they played. A fairly even mix of old material and new, they owned the stage for the time they had it and left everyone anticipating what Starset had planned for them… along with what they could do with a lengthy set. That was perhaps the most intriguing thing of all, seeing Starset no longer bound by the time constraints of opening/supporting sets. Both of their albums have almost a cinematic flow on some levels, each song acting as a piece of a larger story, and everyone was excited to experience something with a broader scope in the live environment. A chant of “STARSET!” broke out amongst a small group of concertgoers as they worked to compete with the droning electronic sound that was gradually building, the bass growing louder and louder as the fuzzed out piece continued. Suddenly, the curtain opened a bit after ten, revealing a violinist as well as a cello player. Two screens were behind them, one on either side of the stage, while the drum kit was somewhat encased in one. That was how it appeared at least. Moments later bassist Ron DeChant and guitarist Brock Richards took the stage, mirroring one another as they assumed their spots and gazed out at the audience, their faces barely visible through the masks of the space like suits they sported. Dustin Bates then bounded out, quickly stepping onto one of the risers at the front of the stage. “DALLAS!” he screamed as he towered over everyone, taking a flying leap off it and back onto the stage as they set to work. Fittingly, they opened with “Into the Unknown”, the new song creating a sense of mystique while doubling as a charged opening number, one that found Starset displaying what a mighty force they were. They immediately appeared hungry and eager to prove themselves to the throng of fans that had turned out. The energy they were radiating was overwhelming, Bates constantly roaming about the stage, making sure he was paying attention to the fans on either side. They relied heavily on visual elements throughout the night, something not every band can pull off, though it was behooving of Starset, often accenting the music in a way. A third screen was in front of the drum kit; and as that song wound to a close, it became translucent, Adam Gilbert suddenly visible as he continued his assault on the drums. It was a cool aspect that would persist throughout the night, Gilbert sometimes hidden due to the footage, but ultimately he was visible more than he wasn’t. “Thank you,” said Bates as he welcomed everyone to their third demonstration in Dallas. Not bad to have only played the city twice before and already they were acting as the main attraction with a sold-out crowd there to watch them. This tour may have been to support their new album, but much to the delight of fans, it was 2014’s Transmissions that received the majority of the attention. “Halo” was one such song, the fan favorite coming early enough that it helped Starset secure their hold on everyone. It utilized the orchestral instruments exceptionally well, Bates even waving his arms around at the end as if he were a conductor, the frontman belting out a few of the lines in more of an operatic fashion, demonstrating the gorgeous tones he’s capable of. “Thank you so much for coming tonight,” he remarked afterwards, his expressions of gratitude being genuine and heartfelt. From behind his station with a state of the art looking touch screen Bates began the brief backing track for their next number, the audience cheering as they recognized it as the lead in to “Down With the Fallen”. “Can you tell me what is real? ‘Cause I've lost my way again…” much of the crowd sang, echoing along on the chorus; while the lights on DeChant, Richards, and Gilbert’s suits continued to light up, casting them in a red, green, or blue tint, alternating on a consistent basis. Another track bridged them into their next song, offering enough downtime that the musicians slipped into the shadows of the wings. When Bates was next seen he had ditched the long, heavy looking jacket he had been wearing, his other layers of clothes, such as a vest, and his bow tie becoming hard to miss. “Antigravity” ventured into the melodic side Starset is capable of, being a potent combination of electronic and rock styles, and continuing the pace was one of the tracks they released in advance of Vessels release date, “Ricochet”. It was an impassioned performance of what is one of the most emotional songs Starset has done. Bates poured everything he had into his singing, obviously connecting with it on a deeply personal level, while it came to a brilliant finish, the violin taking command as DeChant moved over to a keyboard for the outro. It wasn’t without its explosive moments, though Starset was still in the midst of the lull of their performance. “Dark on Me” felt like it was an appropriate follow up, as if it could be an extension of the previous song, delving into what happened in between the start and end. The guitar and bass may have been more restrained, though the cello and violin were given the opportunity to shine; while Gilbert’s steady drumming was thick and pronounced, the vibrations from it rattling one’s chest cavity. Without warning, they kicked things back into overdrive with “Rise and Fall”, the song being a sheer adrenaline rush right from the start. His sleeves now rolled up, Bates appeared eager to continue about pushing themselves to their limits as performers, he, Richards, DeChant, and Gilbert making “Telescope” an exceptionally charged song, even before it reached its peak, the core musicians eventually bowing out for a sensational orchestral finish. “Do you want to hear something from the new record?” the frontman asked, the slew of people cheering, giving him a resounding “yes” as Starset began a stretch of Vessels material with “Frequency”. People may have only had a couple weeks to familiarize themselves with the music, though that seemed like ample time, several die-hards singing with every word, while everyone else was actively engaged in it. They seamlessly wound it into “Satellite”, the evolution between this new batch of songs and the old being quite noticeable. You can hear the progression, the band having matured and developed a clearer idea of how they want their music to sound, the result being something bolder and more commanding than even what their debut release had to offer. Displaying that better than any song this night was “Everglow”, the final track found on Vessels finding a stunning beauty in its minimal first half, Bates’ voice being the sole driving force for that portion of it. It sounds so grand, though, the live rendition of it being even more amazing, as you were able to truly marvel at the powerhouse vocal performance it required Bates to give. The 77-minute long set was beginning to wind down; and as he fiddled with the computer, Bates took a moment to thank KEGL (97.1 FM The Eagle) for their support in spinning the bands’ music. “…Without them, you probably wouldn't know about us or this song,” he remarked, fanfare filling the room once everybody recognized “Carnivore”. Their energy hadn’t diminished in the least, even nearly an hour in, DeChant, Richards, and Bates leaping backwards off the risers each one had available to use, in perfect synch no less, and continued to give it their all. “Bringing It Down” and “Back to the Earth” were a couple more new tracks that were worked in to the set, Bates commenting on the fact that the show was sold-out during the latter of those. “…I guess it's sold-out, which is amazing…” he said, sounding a bit baffled by it as he expressed their gratitude to everyone for showing up. He went on to say they didn’t know what to expect from their first outing as a headliner, the fact that most everyone was singing along to every song meaning a great deal to them. “It’s humbling,” he said after a short pause. Just as the band continued to push themselves, so, too, did the fans, who were seen bouncing around throughout the exhilarating “Monster”; and during a break in “The Future Is Now”, Bates checked on everyone, seeing who was witnessing their first demonstration this night. Quite a few were getting their first experience with Starset on this night, though many more had caught them at least once in the past; those who might not have been familiar being given a quick overview of the mission of The Starset Society. There would be no encore, Bates stressing that, that they didn’t do the “encore thing”, as he urged the still packed Trees to make things count, soon leading a clap along as “My Demons” got underway. That was the final song people were longing to hear, the voices’ of the fans being louder than ever as they sang along to the striking song that ended the performance in a remarkable fashion. “Fun” and “a pleasure” was how Bates described the show as they waved goodbye, soon disappearing from sight, but before the curtain could completely close on the stage, the musicians returned, tossing out picks and drum sticks, grinning from ear to ear as they basked in the love they had received. During the couple of years that Starset has spent amassing a fan base and building a name for themselves, I can see how some people may have perceived them as more of a novelty act of sorts. From the back-story they’ve crafted to (outer) space, in one form or another, being a theme of every song in their catalog, or even the eye-catching attire they all wear (the instrumentalists in particular) they’ve cast themselves in a mold unlike anything else currently out there. And some who saw them in the early afternoon at those various festivals or caught them as a supporting act during other bands’ tours might have viewed Starset as a quirky band that catered to a small niche. As I said, I can understand how some may have felt that way, but after seeing this Trees show, they proved themselves to be so much more. It didn’t take long this night to see those short sets Starset has often been confined to allowed them to barely scratch the surface of what they’re truly capable of. The lighting, while often dark or backlit, worked perfectly with the music to cultivate an atmosphere that was conducive of what the group was tirelessly working to accomplish on this night. Coupled with the music it was moody, ranging from being eerie to hopeful, capturing a sense of elation or sadness and an array of other emotions, each song evoking something different. The use of the cello and violin ensured an authenticity about everything, allowing it to sound how the fans expect it to; and the performance was purely dazzling, the band having no trouble keeping the hundreds of pairs of eyes glued to the stage. It did appear to be slightly cramped up there, though they never appeared hindered, DeChant and Richards thrashing and hopping about their respective sides of the stage, while Bates constantly trekked between the two, seldom being still. They were utterly dynamic and maintained that energetic demeanor for the duration of their show, gleefully showcasing the depths of their chops as performers as they solidified themselves as a headline quality act with seemingly unlimited potential. Far more than just a demonstration (Starset’s terminology for a concert) it was a presentation, one with a brilliant ebb and flow as the songs often transitioned seamlessly, complementing one another in the process. For now, one can only wonder what lies ahead for Starset, but now more than ever they sky truly does seem to be the limit for the band. This tour runs through February 17th, the remaining dates including stops in Baton Rouge, LA (at The Varsity Theatre on the 10th); Madison, AL (at 11th Frame on the 11th); and Johnson City, TN (at Capone's on the 12th). Shows in Baltimore, MD (at Soundstage on the 14th); Lancaster, PA (at Chameleon Club on the 15th); and Pittsburgh, PA (at Rex Theatre on the 17th) will round out the tour. Through late April and into May they’ll also be making appearances at various festivals, such as 98Rock Fest, Welcome To Rockville, Fort Rock, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion, and Rocklahoma. Their complete calendar with more info on all of those events can be found HERE; and check out Vessels in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY.

[themusicenthusiast]

Starset to Embark on a Series of Demonstrations in Support of Sophomore LP, ‘Vessels’; Performing at Trees in Dallas on February 6th

Coinciding with the release of their sophomore album VESSELS, cinematic rock band STARSET is heading out on a U.S. headlining tour this winter. The four-week outing will feature direct support from Gemini Syndrome. Tickets go on sale tomorrow Friday, December 9. "We look forward to the freedom that headlining will bring - allowing us to further realize our sonic and visual objectives.  This will be the most immersive series of 'demonstrations' to date," says front man Dustin Bates. VESSELS--set for release January 20, 2017 via Razor & Tie--is a data-stream rendered in sound where Bates becomes the deus-ex-machina in an age of information overload that is increasingly complex yet ultimately human. From atmospheric opener, "Back To The Earth" to the driving hooks of the album's first single, "Monster" to the catchy, nearly progressive moments of "Frequency," Bates has succeeded in escaping the gravity of formula radio rock. Instead, he has re-imagined his genre-defying vision as an arena where Hans Zimmer interfaces with Radiohead and Trent Reznor. VESSELS was produced by Rob Graves (Halestorm, Red) and mixed by Ben Grosse (Breaking Benjamin, Filter), who also helmed their 2014 Razor & Tie debut, Transmissions, a landmark album selling in excess of a quarter million combined albums, streams and downloads, and propelled by singles including the unforgettable "My Demons" (which spent an unprecedented 43 weeks scaling rock charts).

With over 300 shows logged to date, STARSET--front man Dustin Bates and his helmeted-and-pressure-suited crew, bassist Ron DeChant, guitarist Brock Richards and drummer Adam Gilbert--has distinguished themselves touring with the likes of Breaking Benjamin and In This Moment, playing major U.S. rock festivals and four sold out performances in planetariums, becoming the first rock band to play live in the full dome entertainment environment. This spring, the band will return to Welcome To Rockville, Fort Rock, Carolina Rebellion and Rock On the Range, the famed rock festival in the band's hometown of Columbus, OH, following their 2015 debut at all four events. Tour Dates: January 20--Express Live!--Columbus, OH 21--Metro--Chicago, IL 23--Marquis--Denver, CO 25--Knitting Factory--Boise, ID 26--Knitting Factory--Spokane, WA 28--Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor--Reno, NV 29--Fulton 55--Fresno, CA 31--The Roxy--Los Angeles, CA February 2--Pub Rock--Scottsdale, AZ 3--Club XS--Tucson, AZ 6--Trees--Dallas, TX 8--Brewsters--Corpus Christi, TX 9--Scout Bar--Houston, TX 10--The Varsity Theatre--Baton Rouge, LA 11--11th Frame--Madison, AL 12--Capone's--Johnson City, TN 14--Soundstage--Baltimore, MD 15--Chameleon Club--Lancaster, PA 17--Rex Theatre--Pittsburgh, PA April 28--98Rock Fest--Tampa, FL 29--Welcome To Rockville Festival--Jacksonville, FL 30--Fort Rock Festival--Fort Myers, FL May 5--Carolina Rebellion Festival--Kannapolis, NC

[themusicenthusiast]

The Bands of Monster Energy Houston Open Air 2017: Starset

There’s no denying that Monster Energy Houston Open Air got off to a rocky start last year. Keeping everyone safe (fans, musicians, staff and vendors) is paramount and trumps even music, no matter how great the bands scheduled to perform may be. People learned that the hard way when a perpetual threat of thunder storms delayed the start of HOA on its first day and essentially cancelled day two of the event. Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents (with Live Nation also participating) promised to be back and give the people of Houston the festival they deserve, and for year two they are going to deliver. Slated to go down on October 14th and 15th, Monster Energy Houston Open Air will be relocating to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. The outdoor arena should ensure that, even if weather conditions get somewhat nasty, the show will go on; a second stage planned to be set up to accommodate the more than two dozen bands that will be performing. DWP’s first ever festival in the Lone Star State, 2017 should be the year that they show Texans and other festival goers why they are one of the most revered and successful concert producers in the U.S. Their events have a special touch about them that only they can create; and if you still need further convincing to get your tickets, well, here’s a look at some of the bands performing this October… Starset has had a banner year thus far, releasing their sophomore record just a few weeks in to 2017, Vessels being the album that cemented them as one of the most promising up-and-coming bands currently out there. Well-written in regards to both the music and lyrics, it shows immense growth from where they started; the spacey themes and artful use of electronics in their brand of hard rock resulting in something rather unique.

They solidified themselves as a band to watch with plenty of sold out shows on what was their first ever headline tour, from wowing a capacity crowd in their hometown of Columbus to a sold-out Trees in Dallas, Texas on a weeknight and many others. It was in that environment they truly got to shine, having ample time to work their magic, creating a near constant flow as they segued from one song to the next. Fierce performers with that drive and hunger to become something grand, it was festivals like Monster Energy Houston Open Air that helped introduce Starset to people in the first place, winning over a slew of new fans that way just a couple of years ago. And now, armed with their new record and having had the chance to explore their depths as performers, finishing cutting their teeth and realizing what they’re actually capable of, Starset stands poised to blow minds come the fall. Event info: Saturday, October 14th and Sunday October 15th at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX. $45+

[themusicenthusiast]

Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown will Headline Second Annual Revolution Rock Festival at Foxwoods Resort Casino on September 9 with A Day to Remember, Halestorm and More

After an incredible inaugural year that drew 15,000 fans, Revolution Rock Festival, fueled by Monster Energy, returns Saturday, September 9 with Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, A Day To Remember, Halestorm, Steel Panther and more outdoors at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT. New in 2017, fans who purchase VIP tickets or hotel packages will be treated to an exclusive night of music Friday, September 8 at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino with the newly-reformed Live along with special guests.

"Last year's festival was tremendously successful as we established ourselves as New England's rock festival. We had fans from more than ten states throughout the region experience all that the Revolution Rock Festival has to offer," said Joe Litvag, Executive Producer of Revolution Rock Festival for AEG Presents. "It's an incredible way to experience some fantastic music while enjoying the amenities of a premium property like Foxwoods Resort Casino." "We were thrilled to host the first-ever outdoor music festival held in Southeastern Connecticut, and we look forward to growing upon the success of last year's sold out event," said Felix Rappaport, President and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. "As the premier resort destination in the Northeast, we will continue to provide our loyal guests with world-class entertainment as only Foxwoods can offer."

The full lineup for Revolution Rock Festival is as follows: Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, A Day to Remember, Halestorm, Steel Panther, Zakk Sabbath, Pop Evil, Asking Alexandria, Starset, Bleeker, Dragonforce, Through Fire, DED, Hell or Highwater, Palisades and Badflower.

The lineup for the VIP-only Revolution Rock Festival Friday Night Concert features: Live and Radkey, and additional guests to be announced. A special discounted Early Bird Pre-sale starts Wednesday, May 10 at 10:00 AM EDT. Visit the Revolution Rock Festival social media pages for details and a password to purchase presale tickets. Tickets for Revolution Rock Festival go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 12 at Noon EDT. Early Bird Presale ticket prices are as follows (plus service charges): VIP: $119.50 General Admission: $69.50 GA 4-pack: $238.00 At the general onsale, tickets will be priced as follows (plus service charges): VIP: $149.50 General Admission: $89.50 GA 4-pack: $318.00 All VIP tickets include premier parking, an exclusive VIP entrance, and access to the VIP Lounge which features shade, seating areas, a premium cash bar (must be 21 to purchase), premium food for purchase, and exclusive restroom access. The VIP experience also includes entry to the special Friday Night Kickoff Concert at the Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino featuring the newly-reformed Live, Radkey and additional guests. Foxwoods Resort Casino Hotel Packages will be available during both the presale and general onsale at the following prices: Silver (2 people): $749.00 Gold (4 people): $1,099.00 All hotel packages include VIP tickets, deluxe resort accommodations for Friday and Saturday nights, plus dedicated shuttle transportation to the festival, and a $25 merchandise voucher with each ticket. A limited number of discounted tickets will be available for active military through Revolution Rock Festival partner GovX. Revolution Rock Festival is produced by AEG Presents, producers of Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, Rocklahoma, Rockfest, Northern Invasion, River City Rockfest, High Elevation Rock Festival and other U.S. rock festivals. Revolution Rock Festival is supported by our rockin' sponsors: Monster Energy and Bud Light. These partners, along with many others, will feature interactive experiences, artist meet & greets, and other unique fan engagement opportunities throughout the festival.

[themusicenthusiast]

Saturday, March 10th, 2018 – Upgraded to The Bomb Factory, Starset Makes the Dallas Demonstration of Their IMMERSION Tour an Arresting Experience

Photos by Jordan Buford Photography The last time Starset was in town they sold out the legendary Trees. On a Monday night, no less, for what was unquestionably their biggest demonstration in Dallas up to that point. And now, more than a year later the first part of the IMMERSION tour was bringing the spacy hard rock/electronic rock band back to Dallas. The venue was bigger this time around. Actually, much bigger than was originally anticipated. The recently opened Canton Hall was to play host to Starset and their tour mates this Saturday night, but some issues at the venue forced a last-minute change. Luckily The Bomb Factory is right next door -- the venue being under the same ownership as both Canton Hall and Trees -- and it had nothing booked for this date. It worked out as a perfect alternative. Had the show been able to go on at Canton Hall it would have been pushing capacity if not completely sold-out. Capable of holding more than four thousand music fans, The Bomb Factory had ample room for everyone without ever feeling cramped or restricted. Still, given the sheer size of the venue they had a respectable turnout, a good chunk of the floor of that spacious place being packed with concertgoers. It was impressive and highlighted how rapidly Starset is managing to grow their fan base. It was an eclectic bill they had assembled in regards to their support acts, Year of the Locust providing some solid rock music, while Grabbitz was a mixture of DJ, EDM music as well as a capable singer. Post-hardcore outfit Palisades got things feeling pretty heavy as they delivered an intense set that ensured everyone was ready for what Starset had planned. The IMMERSION tour just sounded like it would be something special. The name suggested that the creative collective that Starset is would be pushing things further than ever before. An even more robust performance accompanied by a bigger production as this intriguing project sought to further make their demonstrations a genuine and unforgettable experience, one focused on stimulating the senses. That’s what the title of this current tour alluded to at least.

Indeed, that looked as if it would be true. Their setup was more elaborate than ever. With larger video screens lined up alongside the drum riser, the drum kit itself surrounded by a screen like on their previous headline tour, one that could be transparent but also doubled as a place to project the visuals. That was how Siobhán Cronin and Jonathan Kampfe’s stations were as well, the violinist and cellist, respectively, each set up in a little space/platform on either side of the back of the stage. At times you would be able to see them working their magic, while other moments the screens fleshed out epic visuals or stunning landscapes that were being shown. It looked like it was going to be something special as the patrons waited for Starset to take the stage; messages that were shown on the screens informing everyone they could download the bands’ app for an added experience near the start of the demonstration. The fans were beside themselves when it finally got underway at 9:41, those who had arrived early and were planted firmly against the barricade excitedly shouting, welcoming the band to the stage as they filed out one by one.

2017’s Vessels would be their primary focus this night; "Satellite" acting as the opening number. “…But if you lead, I'll follow… I will be your Apollo…” patrons were heard singing, echoing along with frontman Dustin Bates at the top of their lungs, making their love for this music and the band that created it evident. Enthralled from the start, the performance that Starset was building to would only become more gripping, Bates quickly transitioning from a calm demeanor during that serene start to darting around the stage as the track grew more dynamic. Caught up in it, he even knocked over one of the lights that set at the edge of the stage. “Welcome to tonight’s demonstration,” he said, greeting the throng of supporters that had come out. That would be one of the longest addresses made to the audience this night. Their demonstrations are about cultivating an atmosphere, something their music is tailor-made for, providing something a display for the onlookers to get lost in and consumed by. And there’s little room or need for conversation in making that happen.

"Gravity of You" was where the full magnitude of that began to be realized. The theatrical elements of the demonstration became bolder. Smoke began to spew out at various points during the track, at times blanketing parts of the stage and often engulfing bassist Ron DeChant and guitarist Brock Richards, each standing or crouching on their respective risers on either side of the stage before briefly disappearing in the clouds. It made the song all the more epic; Bates utilizing both sides of his voice, from brutally screaming some parts to beautifully singing other lines, perfectly capturing the stunning contrast that makes Starset’s music so riveting. Influenced by hard rock and metal bands, the music is also abounding with gorgeous textures and an array of layers, those various styles existing simultaneously; the work of the violin and cello becoming more prominent on that particular song, the full scope of Starset’s music coming into view. They didn’t relent, barreling through the massive set list they had planned, one song feeding into another as they crafted an immaculate flow. "Telescope" would be a real crowd pleaser; another wall of smoke erupting during it, synched perfectly to the flow of the song, happening right as it roared to life, making it feel that much more magnificent.

A couple of tracks later they pleasantly surprised everyone with another favorite from 2014’s Transmissions. The flow didn’t diminish, Adam Gilbert keeping it going with some pulse pounding percussion, the other instrumentalists chipping in as well while Bates spoke to everyone. The vocalist took a count of how many had attended a demonstration in the past and how many were experiencing their first on this night, quickly introducing themselves to those newcomers, informing them of what Starset is about. “I think you’ll know this one,” he remarked as he messed with his computer at his programming station. Suddenly, only about half way through the show, they unleashed "Carnivore", the spectators growing even more frenzied upon recognizing it. One of their signature songs, and thus one typically expected at the back end of the show, it fit nicely there. It highlighted the raw abilities that Bates, DeChant, Richards and Gilbert possess, performance wise escalating things to new heights, making it known that they had a ton left to give while further energizing the crowd for all that remained. They had a few tricks up their sleeve for what Bates pointed out was their first “legitimate” North American headline tour, the frontman expressing their gratitude to everyone for coming out. “When we booked this tour, we didn’t know what to expect,” he stated, clearly grateful and pleased with the reception their supporters had been giving them.

The biggest surprises that they had planned were some reinterpreted versions of a couple cuts off Vessels. You couldn’t really call them acoustic, because they didn’t fit the mold, though they were immensely lighter than what listeners have come to know. “Telepathic” and “Starlight” were the two songs that were revamped; Cronin and Kampfe emerging from their little boxed in platforms, winding up towering above everyone as they stood on the risers at the forefront of the stage. The unblinking glance they gave and the way they brandished their instruments made it look as if they were ready to go into battle, just awaiting the call to do so. Richards took one of their spots, DeChant just focusing on the keyboard for that pair of songs, while Gilbert kept things restrained as the lone rhythmic instrument. What transpired left the patrons in awe, in a way that was completely different from the forceful display that had been so mesmerizing thus far. They songs felt less electronic/hard rock and more orchestral, allowing them to speak to people in ways no fan had ever imagined, the lyrics even taking on a whole new level of depth.

Absolutely ravishing, it further demonstrated just how creative these musicians’ minds are, and even after two albums, they may still just be scratching the surface of what all they are capable of. They returned to their normal positions after that, leading to an all-out blitz to the finish. "Monster" and "Ricochet" were two songs that were more charged than ever, going from great songs that were fun to hear on their last headline tour to stunning displays that stood out as some of the strongest offerings from their set. Both boasted superb lighting that contributed to their appeal, the former of those two seeing DeChant and Richards leaping off their risers in sync with one another. The latter was flat-out amazing, Bates being exceptionally impassioned as he sang that heartfelt track, prowling around the stage, even winding up on the drum riser for a moment. They truly had saved their best for last, the spectators being encouraged to sing and clap along with the final few, each of which made the mood more electrifying. Everyone shouted with delight when they arrived at the closing number of this 79-minute long set, "My Demons".

Even those members of the crowd that had just been taking it all in suddenly switched gears, coming to life as almost everyone there began to sing and shout along. “…Save me if I become my demons!” people passionately bellowed. You could tell that meant something to them, most everyone there having connected with that song on some personal level; Bates holding both his microphone and bullet mic out towards everyone at parts of the chorus, wanting them to give it their all. And they did. It was only right since the members that comprise Starset had poured every ounce of their blood, sweat and tears into the show, doing everything they possibly could to make this a monumental night for those that had come out. The IMMERSION Tour lived up to its name and then some, this Dallas stop that Starset made further establishing them as one of the most cutting edge and creative bands currently out there. Their first headline tour in support of Vessels proved that they were capable of that as they began to show off the full scale of the kind of presentation they could orchestrate when being the primary band of the night. And this tour has expanded upon that exponentially, Bates, DeChant, Richards and Gilbert not only going bigger and bolder than ever before but more so than I think any fan would have anticipated or imagined from them.

I’ll admit, generally I’m not much of a fan of bands that focus more on atmosphere or ones that rely heavily on visual elements, as I believe it detracts from the overall performance that is being put on. Starset is one exception to that, though, because all of that accents the music so well. Music that is some of the most original stuff that has been heard in some time as they brilliantly blend electronic stylings with hard rock and metal sounds, creating something grand that is conducive of and requires such a theatrical presentation. They immersed everyone in this arresting world they created; every aspect of the demonstration being finely nuanced and carefully calculated, yet the organic feel of it all and the emotions that sprung from the rawness of the performance were all kept intact. They did a remarkable job at pumping up the crowd, especially DeChant and Richards, both of whom were constantly egging the spectators on for larger responses as they themselves grew more invigorated. A well curated set list, it felt as if each song was a piece of a larger story, adding to the massive scale of the performance that ebbed and flowed in remarkable ways.

As the patrons headed out and spilled out onto the streets, it was impossible not to be in awe over what had been seen in The Bomb Factory. And for what the future holds for Starset. The production quality for their demonstrations seems limitless. They’ve pushed themselves into all new territory with this latest one, and while it’s presumably in the somewhat distant future, it will be interesting to see how they one-up themselves come their next headline tour. That’s probably looking too far ahead for now, though. The name of this tour suggests there will be a part two to the IMMERSION Tour. Time will tell. For now, Part One will wrap up in the hometown of Columbus, OH at Express Live on March 16th. The Masquerade (Heaven) in Atlanta, GA and Nashville, TN’s Top Golf Live are the other two remaining stops, happening on March 13th and 15th, respectively. Late March through mid-April Starset will be touring the UK and Europe before returning to the U.S. where they will be performing select dates with Shinedown and even Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown. For a complete listing of their tour dates and more details, go HERE. And if you don’t yet have Vessels (or their previous record), be sure to check them out in either iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY. Set List: 1) "Satellite" 2) "Frequency" 3) "Gravity of You" 4) “Last to Fall” 5) "Die for You" 6) “Point of No Return” 7) "Telescope" 8) “It Has Begun” 9) "Carnivore" 10) “Telepathic” 11) “Starlight” 12) "Monster" 13) "Unbecoming" 14) "Ricochet" 15) "Down With the Fallen" 16) “Bringing It Down” 17) "My Demons"