Fallstar Sees Their Reflection in Sacred Mirrors

By Phil Hawkins

Fallstar’s latest album, Sacred Mirrors, the long awaited follow up to 2021’s Sunbreather is finally here and is their most intentional album to date.

The tracks present on Sacred Mirrors were actually written before Sunbreather was ever released. In the past Fallstar has been known more for their genre bending style rather than finding a formula and following it. However, with the release of Sacred Mirrors the band readily acknowledges that is exactly what they intended to do. “We found formulas and voices that really work for us and we’re gonna refine that. Sunbreather set the standard for what we are as a band and we wanted to make that record again, but even better.” Even within the diversity of the songs the record as a whole is the most cohesive project the band has ever completed.

Sacred Mirrors opens with “Timebender & The Jet Engine” which gives a slight glimpse of the genre defying nature that the band has become known for while managing to bridge the gap from Sunbreather. The band manages to continue to defy genres, but they do it with intentionality and cohesiveness that is not often synonymous with such a feat. “Insight” starts with a killer guitar intro/solo riff before going full force in a more metalcore direction. It gives the track a solid contrast that plays to all of the band’s strengths without feeling repetitious. “Sky Symmetry” feels a bit more melodic for the first half before shifting in to a less pop friendly approach and then back again to the melodic driven approach that keeps the contrasting elements consistent.

“Crooks & The Damned” (which features Austin Visser of The Undertaking!) is a solid track riddled with pop sensibility without being sugarcoated or generic and Visser’s contribution to the track adds a level of depth against [Chris] Ratzlaff’s more clean vocal approach on the track. “Doomsayer” comes in heavy with an electronic element laced in the background and wastes no time shifting things in to overdrive. It is the shortest track on the album, but it carries such a solid aesthetic that it truly stands out on the album as a whole. “xSCARZx” closes out the first half of the album and carries on the heaviness of “Doomsayer” in its opening before shifting back to a more melodic driven approach that is found throughout the album as a whole.

“Screaming Through the Walls” seems to have the most accessible sound out of all the track son the album and I could see it garnering substantial radio recognition in the right markets. It keeps things melodic, but still manages to carve out a solid space amidst the heavier elements of the album without feeling out of place. “Dischordia” shifts things back a bit as the opening drums become a driving force that sets the tone for the track which carries a somewhat anthemic chorus of sorts. “Eternal Engine (Die Up)” is Fallstar in their purest form as they blend elements of so many genres without making the end result sound like a chaotic mess. The elements of rapcore/nu-metal are only solidified by the subtle P.O.D. references/throwbacks that are in a couple of places (one is blatantly obvious while the other might be easily missed by the average listener).

“The Persistence of Light” heavily begins the final approach of the album as it begins to culminate. The track is another remarkable example of the band’s ability to create contrasting atmospheres within the same track and then cohesively blend them together. “Savior Self” continues with a semi chaotic opening background to a more guttural vocal approach before blending some higher pitched elements both vocally and in guitar tone. “Water House” closes out the album with a drastic tonal shift as the opening melodies create a more melancholy aesthetic before the rest of the instruments blend in. There is so much going on in the track that it is easy to get lost, but that is the remarkable nature as you can peel back so many layers with each subsequent listen.

Overall, Sacred Mirrors is a beautifully crafted record that manages to fulfill the mission it set out to do. It takes all of the elements of Sunbreather and expands upon them pushing the band forward musically, vocally and lyrically. With Sacred Mirrors it feels as if the band is breaking new ground in some ways and it would be great to see them get recognition that is long overdue.

Sacred Mirrors is out now via Facedown Records and is available on all major streaming and digital platforms. Merch and physical copies can be purchased here.