When STARSET release a record, it isn’t just an album drop — it’s a full-scale transmission. Silos, out September 12 via Fearless Records, is another immersive entry into their ongoing sci-fi saga, blending dystopian storytelling with cinematic rock that feels as visual as it does auditory. With 16 tracks — six interludes, two covers, and a mix of new and previously released singles — the band once again build an entire world for fans to step into.
praesens (Interlude)
The opening interlude functions like a signal being intercepted from a distant outpost. It’s eerie and mechanical, slowly pulling the listener into STARSET’s orbit. In just two minutes, it establishes tension, warning that this won’t be a casual listen but an experience.
DEGENERATE
The first full track slams in with violent urgency. Bates delivers razor-sharp vocals over pulsing electronics and heavy guitars, painting a picture of humanity collapsing under its own weight. The chorus is infectious yet destructive, spiraling downward with apocalyptic precision. “DEGENERATE” is STARSET in full attack mode, and it sets a furious tone for what follows.
SILOS
The title track is one of the most cinematic songs in the STARSET catalog. It’s both personal and global, a tale of haunted love and survival against technological offspring that humanity can no longer control. The lyrics merge sci-fi imagery with emotional devastation, while the instrumentation swells like a collapsing cityscape. Bates sings with desperation as mechanical chaos surrounds him, making “SILOS” a perfect thematic centerpiece.
rise of Messenger (Interlude)
This short interlude acts as a coded broadcast from the resistance. It’s atmospheric, ominous, and keeps the storyline moving without overstaying its welcome.
DARK THINGS
One of the darkest songs on the record, “DARK THINGS” revels in temptation, addiction, and forbidden desire. The lyrics drip with menace, and the production balances heavy riffs with shadowy atmospherics. The chorus — “When you search the dark you get dark things” — is haunting in its simplicity, a perfect STARSET mantra that warns of the cost of diving too deep.
SHATTERED DREAMS (Johnny Hates Jazz cover)
STARSET breathe new life into the 1987 hit, reshaping it from slick pop into dystopian heartbreak. The cover keeps the melody intact but drenches it in haunting atmospheres and emotional weight. Where the original was bittersweet, STARSET’s version feels like the world is ending around the heartbreak, and the timing couldn’t be more fitting for the themes of Silos.
temple of Milton (Interlude)
This interlude feels ritualistic, almost like entering a sacred but corrupted cathedral. It builds a spiritual tension that bleeds perfectly into the fury of the next track.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
Raging and confrontational, “BRAVE NEW WORLD” is one of the heaviest cuts on the album. Lyrically, it critiques manipulation, indoctrination, and digital control, while musically it erupts with pounding guitars and blistering screams. The refrain “it’s a brave new fucking world” is equal parts anger and sarcasm, as STARSET hold a mirror to modern society’s self-destruction.
DYSTOPIA
If one track could summarize the record, it’s this one. “DYSTOPIA” is a furious anthem that captures a civilization eating itself alive. Gaslight imagery, systemic collapse, and anthemic choruses drive the track into explosive territory. Bates’ delivery carries urgency, while the instrumentation swings between cinematic tension and crushing breakdowns. It’s STARSET’s warning siren, blaring loudly for anyone still listening.
HEAD OVER HEELS (Tears for Fears cover)
The second cover on Silos is bold in its reinterpretation. While the Tears for Fears original was lush and romantic, STARSET drape it in shadows, transforming the song into a brooding, spectral ballad. It’s both nostalgic and unsettling, another example of the band’s ability to twist familiar sounds into their unique dystopian vision.
SWAY
A soaring track that offers moments of beauty amid the chaos. “SWAY” feels like one of the album’s most balanced songs, weaving shimmering electronics with muscular riffs. There’s an almost dreamlike quality to the verses that gets shattered by the intensity of the chorus, showcasing STARSET’s ability to pull the listener between calm and storm in the space of a few measures.
the antihero’s journey (Interlude)
This brief interlude feels like a narrative checkpoint, as if the protagonist in STARSET’s storyline is forced to reflect on the path ahead. It’s short, cryptic, and cinematic.
TOKSIK
Explosive, biting, and lyrically scathing, “TOKSIK” takes aim at paranoia, cult mentalities, and cultural collapse. It’s one of the album’s most aggressive tracks, both musically and lyrically. With sarcastic quips, social commentary, and explosive choruses, it proves STARSET can be just as sharp politically as they are conceptually. The blend of chaos and precision makes this one stand out.
at his altar (Interlude)
Dark and ritualistic, this interlude plays like a transmission from a corrupted faith. It’s eerie, setting up the album’s final emotional punch.
AD ASTRA
One of Silos’ most ambitious and uplifting tracks. Translating to “to the stars,” the song feels like a final push for transcendence. Soaring melodies, cinematic orchestration, and Bates’ emotional delivery make it one of the most powerful pieces STARSET have released. It offers hope in the ruins, a reminder that humanity will always look upward even when the ground beneath crumbles.
requiem of the Order (Interlude)
The final track is a somber closing signal. It plays like the last broadcast from a world already lost, fading into static as the transmission ends. It leaves the listener with both closure and the desire to restart the journey.
Final Thoughts
With Silos, STARSET deliver not just music, but an entire universe. The album is an intricate balance of interludes, heavy anthems, haunting ballads, and ambitious covers, all tied together by the band’s signature dystopian vision. It’s cinematic rock at its finest — immersive, thought-provoking, and powerful. In a world that feels increasingly unstable, STARSET’s Silos is both a reflection and a warning, a soundtrack for our collective collapse and resilience.
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
