You have to admit it. When it comes to modern rock, hip-hop and EDM, nobody blends them to perfection like American band Imagine Dragons. Smoke + Mirrors blends all this with incredible song-writing chops as the band deftly integrates its electronic sensibilities with alternative-rock instincts, dubstep, and vocalist Dan Reynolds’ instantly memorable melodies.
Overseen by producer Alex Da Kid, the four-member Las Vegas-bred band’s multi-platinum 2012 debut album Night Visions saw the advent of something new in the rock soundscape with their old-fashioned arena-rock and new age infusions of synths, hip-hop and EDM. Their biggest hit, the ubiquitous hard-charging single ‘Radioactive’ is easily labelled the best-selling rock song ever. Debuting at Number one on the U.S. Billboards, Smoke + Mirrors is a 13-track honest offering of something the Dragon lords dig deep within themselves to find as a follow up to Night Visions .
Sparkling reverb-driven signatures introduces ‘Shots’ that is full of spectacular hints of dance rock. The lead single is fiery and yet lets off more smoke than fire in its launching grooves. ‘Gold’ trudges along in a slower, more melodic trot that showcases triumphant guitar riffs and soaring high notes allowing frontman Dan Reynolds to take the slightly sinister songs motifs a notch higher.
Infusing more hip-hop than rock in the title track, ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ urges you to dream bigger in the anthemic song that has glittering hooks and lead synths mashing up to an dreamy guitar lead solo that catches you in it’s surprising vibey riff. You are sure to return to this song again and again.
‘I’m So Sorry’ is just straight-up rock backed by rampaging garage blues grind full of the heavy drums that the band is famous for. ‘I Bet My Life’ sees the band put it all on the line in a sound that is rapidly becoming the alternative formula with the triumphant song. “I know I took the path that you would never want for me,” sings Dan with enough conviction to prepare you for a curb-stomping chorus. ‘Polaroid’ sways to the other side with keys-inducted and claps that sounds more like a slow hip-hop choral ballad rather than a rock groove.
The vaguely Middle Eastern melody of ‘Friction’ backed by Arabic strings is oddly out-of-place and yet significantly true to the band’s out-of-the-blue experimentation with new instrumentation. ‘It Comes Back To You’ is encouragingly brighter with sunny skipping nuances and a lighter body-grooving enjoyable tune despite the morbid lyrics. The sonic heavy piano ballad of ‘Dream’ actually wafts in a dark edgy guitar shimmering sound with Dan’s tempered vocals. ‘Trouble’ again surprises you with its brilliantly-executed vocal harmonies of highs and lows led by heavily driven drums and piano shades. ’Summer’ breezes past without much ado with its riff backed almost country kitsch sound. ‘Hopeless Opus’ sees Dan coming to the rescue again with his infectious chorus displaying tremendous vocal proficiency in a song that may have easily gone bad.
Album closer ‘The Fall’ catches you off-guard again with a glittering shiny keys intro as the band returns to its original anthem-heavy soundmark in the foot-stomping hope-folk rock ballad. You know Imagine Dragons have given this record their all as Dan sings “I am ready for the fall/ I am ready for everything I believed in to drift away” in the rising climax.
A must pick-up for anyone who loves music, Smoke + Mirrors has something for everyone. Some of you may never be the same again after listening to this album.
