Møl
Dreamcrush
Nuclear Blast Records
Dreamcrush is an album that demands multiple listens before its intentions begin to surface. Initially, the collision of indie rock melodies with harsh vocals feels discordant, a bit like oil and water. That’s not to say that the fusion can’t work; Deafheaven have built entire albums around this contrast, often using harsh vocals sparingly to great effect.
Tracks like the supercharged Young and opener Dream strike that balance with absolute confidence. But others like Små Foils and Hud tend to lean into a distinctly Scandinavian, almost A-ha-like softness that seems ill-suited to the abrasive vocal overlay. In both cases, the harsh vocals feel more like an imposed texture than an organic choice, and the songs arguably breathe better without them.
It is with the track Garland that this tension is pushed further. It opens with the emotional clarity of a Snow Patrol track, only to pivot between fry vocals and a heavier, oddly upbeat attack, before settling into a proggy bridge that works well on its own terms. Yet even here, the sense lingers that the track might have flourished more fully without the vocal abrasion.
None of this detracts from the sheer beauty of the instrumentation. It’s windswept, very cinematic, and often stunning, in fact so much so that the vocal choices stand out more starkly by contrast. For some listeners, this juxtaposition will be thrilling. Bands like Architecture and Hexvessel have also proven it can be done with cohesion and purpose. But in this case, the execution feels slightly uneven.
A Former Blueprint exemplifies the issue: two compelling musical ideas stitched into one track that never quite reconcile its dual identity. It’s a song that sounds like two songs, and not in a way that feels intentional.
This may well be an unpopular take. MØL’s fanbase is devoted, and on paper, this album should resonate. There are genuinely great moments that showcase the band’s talent and vision, yet the album struggles for cohesion. When Mimic arrives at track ten, it injects much-needed venom and clarity, standing out as a highlight and offering a glimpse into the passion that fuels their following.
Yet the closing track, Crush, fails to build on that momentum and instead retreats into a muddled blend of styles that seem reluctant to coexist. For longtime fans, none of this may matter as they’re already invested. But for others, this album remains a puzzle: beautiful in parts, frustrating in others, and ultimately difficult to embrace in full.
We really wanted to love this album, we really did.
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Review By George Miller