DREAM CATCHER – NIGHTMARE·FALL ASLEEP IN THE MIRROR

Track List:

1. My Toys (Intro)
2. Good Night
3. Lullaby
4. Good Night (Inst.)



For those who don't know, Dream Catcher started out as a dance-pop outfit called Minx, went through a small lineup change, and resurfaced. Their previous single was 'Nightmare,' which established their dark concept and a revamped sound. Now they're back again, with "Nightmare·Fall Asleep In The Mirror," a four-track single with a metal edge to it.



"My Toys" starts out with an appropriately dramatic intro (an intro to the intro) and then launches into a delightfully crunchy guitar solo. The guitarist shreds here at tsunami speeds and gives K-pop a kick in the jimmies. It's obvious that from here we're going to hear some majestic material.

The anthemic "Good Night" is a little less frantic, though no less technically proficient. I love how the girls' voices really take this to the next level -- singing with some guts and at times mockingly. They cross into rap on this one, but it's amazingly good for idol rapping, and then these iron maidens fold the rap back into singing. There are some sweet breaks here, and more delicate bridges that are a great contrast to the tune as a whole. An excellent title track.



"Lullaby" is the outlier on this single. It's absolutely beautiful, and better put together than most of their other tunes. There are some gorgeous harmonies that really highlight the girls' vocals. It sort of traipses into power ballad land, but not quite, remaining restrained enough to lend it some class. There's also a desperate tenderness at the end that almost brings a tear to the eye.



With just three songs (and one instrumental), this release is a tiny slice of awesome. This is a fine example of melodic metal, which is badly needed in the K-pop world IMHO. The concept is great, the execution is gold. I don't think I could have foreseen a restructuring work so well, and certainly not with a change this drastic. It's a testament to the girls' skill that it all sounds so good. I can't wait to see a full album from these girls. Amazing work.

You should also chase down their cover of Maroon 5's "Lucky Strike." They metalized it and gave it a needed shot of energy.

MV REVIEW

The video is dark and gloomy but at the same time full of hope. The guy from the "Chase Me" MV is back, apparently still trying to hunt down Dream Catcher. His agents are out in force, scouring the woods for the girls. They don't want to be caught, though, and elude capture (all except one). Reaching through a mirror, they sabotage his spellbook and release their teammate. Finally, they turn the tables, blow up his grimoire, and trap him in a mirror at the end.

The imagery and colors here are just fantastic. I love their new concept because there's so much they can do with it if they just flex their creative muscles some - and they have. I like the idea of the spellbook, the flames, the exploding pages, the creepy forest, and the wardrobe. I also love that the video is essentially a continuation of their earlier MV.



The wardrobe goes well with their concept. It also shows off their legs quite well, but other than that it looks really cool, with frills at the cuffs and decorations all over. There are several costume changes, sometimes mid-dance, and I'm not sure how they do that trick so seamlessly. Which is all part of the magic of the piece.

So not only do we have an adrenaline-pumping piece of music, we also have a killer MV to go with it. I have to give this whole package an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Score