by Jesse Hudgins
“Supergroup” LS Dunes have unveiled their second album, Violet, which will drop at the start of 2025. To say that this is an album people should be anticipating is an absolute understatement.
LS Dunes debuted in 2022, made up of members of Saosin, Thursday, Coheed and Cambria, and My Chemical Romance. Debuting at that year’s Riot Fest, they played six songs from their soon-to-be released album Past Lives, which came out in November of that year to great critical acclaim, also cracking the US Billboard 200. For me, this album was a good release, but after the first few listens for review purposes, I didn’t give much attention to the album. It really wasn’t until their two singles “Old Wounds” and “Benadryl Subreddit” in 2023 that I took a step back and reevaluated the album and realized I horribly slept on it.
Past Lives is a cynical post-hardcore look at a dark world that has gotten darker over time. The vocals from Anthony Green are harsh with agony and anger that fill every syllable of songs that tackle depression, irritation toward politics, and even imposter syndrome. The instrumentals throughout the album showcase the band perfectly as they masterfully fill the sound behind the vocals. Whether it be the brash “2022” and “Permanent Rebellion,” or the 50s swing of “Sleep Cult,” the band wasn’t afraid to explore different sounds in this endeavor. It slowly crept its way into my list of best record releases from 2022 only being beaten by Anxious’ Little Green House. Still, I was intrigued to see what LS Dunes had in store for this year, and as Valentine’s Day rolled around, we got the track “How Dare You.” Everything that was built up in the past record continued and evolved with the three singles that were released afterward. However, when they announced Violet and its track list, it didn’t feature any of those singles.
Confusion is the only word I can use to describe how I felt when LS Dunes announced Violet a month after the track “Fatal Deluxe.” Shortly after, though, I realized that all the tracks on the album were going to be brand new songs. While not as abrasive as past singles like “Benadryl Subreddit” or “2022,” the song offered a look at the next chapter of LS Dunes: still hard-hitting but filled with technicality like no other. Lyrically, they continue to hammer home cynical emotions, specifically loneliness. The repetition of lyrics does a lot for the punch of emotion in how loneliness or depression can be a constant that just won’t go away no matter how hard we try.
The second single they released shortly after the album announcement was “Machines.” Arguably the opposite of “Fatal Deluxe,” “Machines” is a catchy, bass-driven love song that just spirals into the right amount of chaos for the pre-chorus and chorus. It continued their trend of putting out music that refuses to disappoint in any capacity.
I think my former Alternage co-host, Chloe Kallberg, put it best regarding LS Dunes when she said they essentially remind her of Soundgarden. I think she hit the nail on the head with that; sonically they have their differences, but I think the two bands are very similar in their song writing, themes, and the way they’re willing to play with different styles. Violet looks like it’s going to continue that trend of exploration as the two singles sound completely different from what’s come before them.
The fact that there are still nine tracks that have yet to be heard boosts the excitement tenfold. There’s high potential that this record could be an early contender for 2025’s album of the year. If you have yet to tap into LS Dunes, you should. Between their post-hardcore sound and their brilliantly emotional song writing, this is a band on the scene right now that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone.
