Windwaker | ALbum Review
By Michala and Steph
Our favourite genre-benders, Windwaker, are back with their third studio album, smile, you’re on camera.
Their most honest release yet, the album reflects their journey as a band and as individuals since HYPERVIOLENCE. exploring growth, struggles, sacrifice, and navigating a world full of sinister and superficial characters.
This review is a 2-for-1 deal! Michala and Steph have teamed up to share their thoughts, giving you two different perspectives on the album.
Let’s break it down, starting with Michala!
Low
The album opens with a dramatic build up and breakdown, setting the intense tone for the collection. A heavy electronic bassline pairs with deep rap-esque vocals, before building up into a melodically angelic pre chorus. The lyrics are consistently vulnerable and earnest.
The contrast of the heavy verses and airy chorus keeps you on the edge of your seat, transporting you into an ethereal world.
Liam’s vocals are beyond impressive, from screams to melodic riffs, the track flaunts sonic skill from every department.
Click
Click is a fun loving yet intense track laced with a dystopian electronic feel.
The contrast between Rinrin’s cute sound with the band’s bassy and angsty sound creates a strong dichotomy and broad sound that becomes apparent across the entire album.
The lyrics explore the almost apocalyptic and highly monitored world we live in, evidently creating the title of the album smile, you’re on camera.
dna
DNA proved the albums success preemtivley as one the hit singles. The track pairs vulnrability with an intense sound, staring heavy vocals and deep rhythmic percussion, setting the stage for sentimental lyrics. Raps curate a masculine atmosphere before soulful vocals reveal a more emotional side of the track.
Guitarist Justin Keurntjes presents both acoustic and elecontoric riff as the song fluctuates between highs and lows.
Victory Lap
Victory lap is all about celebration, emphasised by strong and distorted guitar riffs and cymbal heavy percussion.
The song is constantly transforming, from softly echoic background vocals, to screams atop a glitchy bassline. Lyrically, it centres the small wins in life, and taking accountability for what you have created.
This ones bound to be added to your feel good summer playlist.
Wait for me
My personal favourite on the album is wait for me, an etheral, sensual track, breaking up the intenisty of the album acting as an interlude.
The band plays with homophones, between 'so low' and 'solo', using their wit to crafting a truly satisfying sound.
It has an undescribable groove and flaunts Liam’s diverse vocal capability, whilst ultitlsing their unique, synth heavy sound, an aspect that has allowed them to thrive and stand out in the scene. It’s a short and sweet melodic tune you’re bound to have on repeat.
overlord
One of the heaviest tracks on the album is overlord, it’s one made for the pit. The track opens with a breakdown, before bending into a smoother hip hop chorus, all above a heavily distorted bassline. The lyrics assert dominance and power, advocating for confidence for self assertion.
it's set to be a self love anthem, something that we all need sometimes.
I predict this will be a fan favouirte, and absolutly go off at their up and coming set of shows.
Now for Steph's part
Closer
second song in and we're really starting to see where this album is going. While the verses hold a more melodic and calm presence, the chorus amps up the energy and is one that makes you want to bang that head.
The breakdown is where get to hear those screamy screams we all love.
It honestly caught me off guard as the build up is so go it just gets heavier the more it goes on. This song i feel is for those of us who keep putting those things on hold in life so we can get a little bit closer to what/where we want to be and not giving up this time.
Do or die
DO or die starts with a cheeky little drum bit before hitting you in the face with the screams of "us or them" being the most prominent words you can hear, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The song is heavily influenced by hip-hop and pop blending so nicely into their usual metalcore style.
I'm flipping on these narcissists. As they duck and dictate how they're all victims
This song is about struggling and fighting against a system that has been against us from the beginning. In that moment trying to take your power back. I thnk this song might be a favourite for a lot of people will have in their top songs of the album.
Burn
Burn has a very newer metalcore vibe and structure. While it might have a metalcore vibe, the vocals are not just straight up singing, blending rap into verses gives this a more modern feel.
The breakdown.....I have no words. Its a change in not only tempo but the intensity of the song. Going quiet to the point you think maybe the song stopped.
Then it hits you like out of nowhere, like a slap to the face!
Lie to me
Lie to Me has a classic metalcore sound with Windwaker’s signature flare, whether that’s through a unique breakdown or the seamless blend of other genres into their music.
We all know the feeling of questioning whether we can trust someone or not. You never really know who’s 100% genuine, which is why asking such a simple question as, can hold so much meaning.
Would you lie to me.
This song feels like it’s for those trying to weed out the superficial and toxic people in their lives, and I feel like a lot of people will relate to this one.
loser
Loser is such a fun song and probably my favourite off the album. Around halfway through, the song started giving me Bring Me The Horizon vibes, particularly reminding me of LosT and Top 10 staTues tHat CriEd bloOd. Mixing all the little eltronic, synth and fast tempo.
I can imagine this song going absolutely hard at live shows.
The surprise feature from Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly adds something extra to the track with her vocals on a song about being a loser. What more could you want!
Some Days
As the final song on the album, Some Days feels like everything has been leading up to this moment. It has an eerie, grungy feeling and a much slower tempo compared to the fast pace of the rest of the album.
The most I’ve learned is to lay in bed and hope for the best
as we all have our own battles, and sometimes all we want to do is lie in bed where we feel safe from the world. Ending the album this way was a bold choice, but it works incredibly well with the overall flow of the record.
Final takes
This album holds a lot of emotion, and Windwaker have done an incredible job of channelling it all into their music. I think everyone will find their own hidden gem throughout the record. You can never say that Windwaker’s songs all sound the same, with each track bringing something different to the table while somehow flowing together so seamlessly. I honestly don't think the album would have the same impact if the songs were in a different order.
as the tracklist feels carefully put together to take you ona journey from beginning to end.
Overall, it's a great example of how a band can experiment with different sounds and emotions while still creating an album that feels cohesive.
Tracklist:
low
closer
click (ft. rinrin)
do or die
dna
burn
victory lap
lie to me
wait for me
loser (ft. mikaila delgado)
overlord
some day
ALbum drops Friday 23rd October on all streaming platforms!!!
TOUR
To celebrate the album, they embarking on their biggest headline tour to date. Bringing their friends in THe Pretty WIld (US), RinRIn and DREGG!
GRAB your tickets here via destroy all lines
