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Dreamcatcher’s ‘Apocalypse: Follow Us’ Proves Why The Septet is One of K-pop’s Most Electrifying Groups

Thematically tight and socially conscious, Dreamcatcher’s latest EP serves as a quick guide to grasp the group’s sonic caliber

Oct 17, 2022

Dreamcatcher. Courtesy of The Dreamcatcher Company

Amongst the many facets that K-pop rock group Dreamcatcher excel at, narrating compelling stories swaddled in exhilarating soundscapes is undoubtedly their trump card. And while “Maison” landed them not one but two music-show wins, the latest single “Vision” off their seventh EP, Apocalypse: Follow Us, is all the proof you need to make them a recurring act on your on-repeat playlists. 

Acting as the sophomore chapter in their ongoing Apocalypse series, which examines society’s relationship with planet Earth, “Vision’s” narrative is precisely what fans had suspected it to be – a revolution against environmental issues. We first received hints of this in the comeback schedule that housed an illustration of a microphone. This was shortly followed by a series of concept photographs with each member standing behind a podium dotted with microphones. The progression from a cry for help in “Maison” to taking matters into their own hands in “Vision” is indisputable. Yet, the EP tells a far greater story than the age-old proverb, ‘actions speak louder than words.’  

Though not as extensive as their April 2022 LP Apocalypse: Save Us, Apocalypse: Follow Us serves as a quick guide to familiarize your sonic tastebuds with Dreamcatcher’s sound. With the intro and outro tracks sandwiching genres ranging from dark techno, metal, alt-rock and ballad, the EP is an appetizer of sounds InSomnia (Dreamcatcher’s fandom) has grown fond of. 

Apocalypse: Follow Us opens with the edgy techno-based instrumental “Intro: Chaotical X” and pretty much sets the mood for the next track, “Vision.” Unlike their LP’s “Intro: Save Us,” “Intro: Chaotical X” pulls you into the action right from the word go, hinting towards the beginning of an explosive, action-packed chapter. While “Intro: Save Us” instilled a sense of eerie uncertainty with the orchestral soundscape, “Intro: Chaotical X” breaks free from the chains of uncertainty, embodying the gusto with which Apocalypse’s storytelling has evolved. 

Deconstructing the next track (and the lead single) “Vision” will most likely draw you to the unanimous conclusion that this is a quintessential Dreamcatcher release. The nu-metal track sees long-term collaborators Leez and Ollounder work alongside June One of Glen Check on the composition and arrangement fronts. In comparison to Dreamcatcher’s April 2022 single “Maison” – a far more palatable release for the general public that lacked the intensity that only Dreamcatcher can deliver – “Vision” recaptures the group’s vigor and prowess which they’re admired for. Thanks to the dark-techno influences, the cyberpunk mood runs adjacent to Dreamcatcher’s ambitious vision to restore Earth to a cleaner and safer planet. Additional sonic elements such as industrial distortion and crisp guitar riffs are gradually introduced throughout the track without eclipsing the vocals or raps. On the other hand, Siyeon’s soaring high note and Dami’s rap are additional aspects that make “Vision” a lead single done right.

The consecutive tracks “Fairytale” and “Some Love” exhibit the group’s take on shades of love. While the alt-rock gem “Fairytale” is a giddy love confession under the gleaming sky, the groovy rock track “Some Love” emphasizes the importance of self-love: “Love yourself/ To the sound of the horn that’ll wake up this silence/ Let’s open the door and get out/ We all need some love.” Sonically speaking, “Fairytale” holds a far greater earworm value that can largely be tied back to Siyeon’s euphonious sing-along, “Follow your heart.” The self-love anthem, though groovy and successful in conveying a warm, cheerful ambiance, could have benefitted from a catchy chorus. Despite having a great build-up and a fairly sensational pre-chorus, the chorus doesn’t reach its crescendo and feels rather flat. 

With “Rain Day,” Dreamcatcher sombers the mood (for all the right reasons). The unanticipated shift from a predominantly rock soundscape to a sentimental ballad is rather sudden and doesn’t ease you into the mood. However, it is a necessary shift to prepare your senses for “Outro: Mother Nature.” It’s almost like a satisfactory workout where you warm your body with mid-tempo routines and dive head-first into dexterous sets before cooling down. Out of the six tracks on this EP, “Rain Day” does feel like the black sheep of the record. It doesn’t conform to the sonic or thematic trend that runs in the EP, and yet does an exceptional job of highlighting the groups’ mellow personas. Nestled over a delicate piano melody, the track allows listeners to submerge their senses in the honeyed and soothing vocals as Dreamcatcher sing about an aching heart: “When this rain stops/ I hope I can erase you, too/ When I hear the sound of rain/ My love, I think of you more.” 

If “Intro: Chaotical X” left you pumping with adrenaline and urgency to address the looming climate-change crisis, “Outro: Mother Nature” will leave you with a glimmer of hope, washing your anxiety away. Ethereal and sanguine, the reassuring outro is a great way to remind listeners that all hope is not lost and that with a little bit of teamwork, we can restore Earth to her glory days. 

According to a press release, Dreamcatcher’s EP “continues the series’ theme of raising environmental awareness and combating climate change,” which they last addressed in Apocalyse: Save Us. Yet, the EP’s overarching theme feels far from this. However, widening your perspective can help envision the group’s motives better. Be it raising awareness or starting a revolution against climate change, at the end of the day, the initiative taken stems from the love and respect you hold for the planet and everyone who lives here. With “Intro: Chaotical X” and “Vision,” Dreamcatcher pretty much cover the first base, while the remaining tracks expand on their love for the planet, extending it to the people who reside here. From celebrating romance to self-love and finally applying a balm to soothe your aching heart, Dreamcatcher’s understanding of love is not restricted to its traditional idea, but is one that celebrates all forms of it. And all signs point towards this EP being a product of that perspective – a love record for the planet and its people

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