If you are in the mood for some brooding yet exhilarating darkwave power with a sonic identity forged in the crossroads 80’s nostalgia and contemporary electronics, then look no further than the Los Angeles duo Hallows.
Hallows employes a feverish deep dive into a world where genres crossover and sonic expressions flourish. Hallows demonstrates an unyielding ability build on the past to welcome a new phase for each subsequent release. Musically, there’s a potent alchemy of gothic gloom, dance floor power amplified with EBM beats and an occassional shimmering of Italo-Disco undercurrents. Thematically, Hallows found a natural ability to craft their frantic body-shaking synth-laced arrangements with stories about life that explore vulnerabilities, self-destruction, love and heightened emotional experiences.
Brutal Resonance has covered Hallows since the days of their cassette Subtle going back to 2020. Every release pushes the duo Vanee and Dom to raise the bar on their artistic expression without alienating the support of the fans that crave the dark yet inviting waves of unrelenting melancholy. The embrace is gentle yet finds ways to shake us to our core with tight production the accentuates how much work was poured into this gloomy opus that will be hard-pressed to take a backseat to any of their contemporaries.
Every track captures a heartfelt story at the center, playing on the many strengths Hallows demonstrates each and every time they set out to create another offering. The catchy electronics pour on an EBM vibe while a dark pop energy complements the powerful synth arrangements. The crushing basslines land like concrete bombs, while the crisp drumming snaps forward with the precision of a finely-tuned machine. The synths do not simply decorate the songs; they burn across the mix like a nuclear fire ripping across the midnight sky, opening up the environment for the duo’s voices to carry out their objectives. Dom and Vanee lure you in through heartfelt expressions in the wake of emotional collapse inflicted by personal demons and the cruelty of the outside world. Their intimate yet expressive vocal delivery makes the darkness feel less like a warning and more like a hidden realm where you can safely confront what beckons you.
Dream is without a doubt Hallows’ finest work to date. Everything you would expect from Hallows is here. The tracks are strong from begining to end. There is a vast range of influence from post punk and dark wave to EBM and a healthy dose of European cold wave. Dom even delivers the track “Regret” in French which fits well into the mix of Dream. The heavy EBM basslines paired with Dom’s deep melodic voice and swirling frantic assault of synths give rise to another dimension of the duo’s ability to continually evolve in sound and execution. Several of the tracks were released as singles over the last several months. As always, both Dom and Vanee collaborate as well as complement each other in a way where everything is on the table. From the songwriting to the delivery the listener can be seduced by the music as well the vocals which showcase a dual approach that finds a way to open the range in sonic designs.
Most of the tracks on side A of the vinyl offering of Dream were released earlier in the year with the exception of “Two Bodies”. Everything on the B-side is new to me. I love the video for the track “Dream”. It reminds of this awesome place in New Jersey that holds hardcore shows in a taco shop. They clear the tables out and punks go nuts thrashing and slamming while others order tacos, burritos and quesadillas and watch bands from all over the world shred! In the video Dom plays his keys in aisle 2 near the pool noodles, cereal and other various and dry goods. Unlike the taco shop in New Jersey, there aren’t any lunatic punks mainlining the Lucky Charms near where Dom is playing. Vanee has some sort of thing going on with the phone. I will assume this is the sound check in my mind. The crowds are coming hoping to see Hallows play live and score some paper towels and Bluetooth wireless speakers. Seeing them do their thing in the small convenient store is a somewhat humorous compliment to my current favorite track off the new album. Along with “Dream”, Hallows also released videos for “Regret”, “This Love”, and a flashy video addendum of an amped-up “Find A Way” (one of their best original tracks conveniently found on Dream) injected with Inhalt’s Ipso Facto Remix. For those that dig the big-boned bass that unleashes an all-out frontal assault of murderous rhythms driving bodies to bounce and thrash around, the Inhalt remix track will drive the dance floors wildly insane. The Nuxx Remix of “Dream” raises the pulse with a higher BPM with a nice touch of New Beat nastiness reminiscent of the later 80’s. The entire album is a joy to experience from the moment the needle hits the striking pink wax.
On a quality turntable, the vinyl version gives Dream a physical weight that suits Hallows perfectly. The low end feels fuller and more dimensional, not merely loud, but rounded enough to move through the room like a shadow with mass. The synth layers have more breathing space, allowing the colder textures to shimmer at the edges while the heavier sequences push forward with a muscular, club-floor authority. There is also something rewarding about hearing the album unfold side by side on wax; the pacing feels deliberate, almost ritualistic, as if each flip of the record resets the atmosphere before pulling you deeper into the labyrinth of sound. On pink vinyl, the experience becomes both visual and tactile, turning Dream into an object that feels as carefully crafted as the music itself.
In the end, Dream is a must-have because it captures Hallows at their most confident, emotionally charged, and sonically expansive. The album upholds and honors the shadowy foundations of darkwave, post-punk, EBM, and cold wave while refusing to sound trapped in nostalgia. Instead, Vanee and Dom shape those influences into something immediate, intimate, and full of life. From the rolling boulder basslines and icy synths to the vulnerable vocal exchanges and body-moving rhythms, every track feels built with purpose. Whether experienced through headphones, on the dance floor, in a convenience store with sparely inventoried shelves or spinning on a quality turntable, Dream stands as both a powerful statement of artistic growth and a deeply rewarding listen for anyone drawn to beautifully crafted darkness.
