Dream Nails made their mark on the industry with 2020’s Dream Nails. The gutsy debut took aim and fired at numerous social and political injustices. Highlighting certain atrocities that continued to build a division between all groups. With skits of real-world news embedded into their frenetic sound, it was an album that really summed up the instability of the world at the time.
Three years later and the group return with Doom Loop. A title that essentially relents that nothing has changed for the better and that the same issues mentioned on their debut are just as prevalent or worse than they were before. Now fuelled with even more frustration and anger, Dream Nails come back even harder with Doom Loop.
“Doom Loop is an exploration of the repeated cycles we find ourselves in,” comments vocalist Ishmael Kirby, “from political injustice and patriarchal systems to the negative spirals of our minds. A doom loop is a crisis that starts to feed on itself. It feels like there is no escape. But there is. This album is a reflection of ourselves, the world we live in, and the one we want to create.”
Single ‘Good Guy’ kicks things off with a snaking riff that seeps into the hips. Producing a groove that immediately locks you in. Written about the phrase becoming a fake ID of sorts, and how you can’t really trust anybody these days, a snake is probably the best way to describe it. On the surface, it’s catchy and filled with hooks – especially with its singalong chorus – but the lyrics and topic highlight the true danger behind the accessibility. (“It’s not a bad apple, it’s the whole damn tree”)
Bassist Mimi Jasson recounts: “Incel terrorist Elliot Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in 2014. The final section of his manifesto, where the 22-year-old complained about not being able to get a girlfriend, Rodger declared ‘I am the true victim in all of this. I am the good guy’”.
‘Geraniums’ stomps into view with another earworm-y instrumental. Complete with mammoth riffs and melodies, it showcases Dream Nails’ progression in sound. While not quite as DIY-sounding as their debut, there’s still room for things to get a little chaotic. This tighter, refocused sound allows more variation to enter the fold.
‘Prevenge’ plays around with the tempo and vocals to distort the flow. Adding a little hint of experimentation which is realised fully on ‘Sometimes I Do Get Lonely, Yeah’, which sets guitars aside to dabble in a bass-lead instrumental that really stands out. This embrace of variation fits in with the all-inclusive haven Dream Nails look to promote.
Despite being as fearless and outspoken as it is, Doom Loop also has a sense of hope to it. While largely is sounds aggressive and in your face, there’s an openness and accessibility in its topics that allows anyone to come and join in. ‘Femme Boi’ is one of the catchiest tracks on the record, but lyrically wouldn’t be relatable to a lot of people. With all the issues happening across the world, Dream Nails have produced something that has a desire to simply see the world be better. Something we can all come together to support.
It’s a record that will grab your attention with instant hits but has the depth to convince you to really listen. It is easily accessible while unpredictable, which makes it even more entertaining. Dream Nails have grown and solidified themselves as a band to truly get behind.