Reviewed by Steph Ure
Release date: 6 November 2026
Dark, melancholic and emotionally confronting, Perth's Dreamspeed have created an EP that feels less like a collection of songs and more like an experience. Their debut EP, Demo, takes listeners through a world of grief, loneliness, vulnerability and emotional chaos, balancing moments of delicate beauty with the crushing intensity of depressive doom and post-black metal.
Formed in June 2025, Dreamspeed have quickly begun establishing themselves within Australia's heavy underground scene. Consisting of Han Gunn (vocals), Oli Booth (guitar), Daniel Hacking (bass) and George Blacklock (drums), the four-piece draw influence from artists including Deafheaven, Agalloch, Ragana, Worm and Blind Girls.
Self-recorded and mixed at Sumo Sound Studios, with Blacklock and Hacking handling recording duties and Blacklock also responsible for mixing and mastering, Demo is an ambitious introduction to a band that understands the emotional power of music.
What makes Dreamspeed particularly interesting is their ability to communicate vulnerability without sacrificing intensity. Their music is dark, sometimes unsettling, yet strangely comforting. There is an almost whimsical quality buried beneath the distortion and chaos, creating the feeling of stepping into a dark fantasy where you aren't necessarily the hero of the story. You're the antihero, experiencing every complicated emotion along the way.
Opening with dark, moody and melodic guitar, ‘Inverse Shadows’ establishes a sombre, slightly eerie atmosphere almost immediately. The gentle sounds of pen moving across paper and notebook pages turning add an unusual intimacy to the introduction, creating a sense of anticipation before the vocals begin.
Gunn's vocal delivery is one of the most captivating elements of the track. Blending melodic singing with slow, almost beautiful screams, there is a delicacy to the performance that contrasts with its extraordinary strength. It's an unusual combination that gives the song its own identity.
Around the one-minute mark, the guitars and drums begin to build, bringing a noticeable increase in intensity as the vocals become more commanding. Throughout the track, Dreamspeed move between moments of calm and chaos, using changes in tempo and instrumentation to heighten the emotional experience. There is a sense of longing and loneliness woven through the music, but rather than simply listening to someone else's emotions, you begin to experience them yourself.
Inspired lyrically by the sorrow and despair surrounding Minas Morgul in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, ‘Inverse Shadows’ captures a sense of darkness, loss and vengeance. Even without knowing its inspiration, the storytelling is apparent in the music.
That atmosphere carries into ‘A Ditch of Your Dimensions’, although this time Dreamspeed introduce something swampier, grungier and unapologetically heavy. Slow drums, distorted guitars and drawn-out screams establish an immediate sense of weight and intensity. There is something almost suffocating about the atmosphere, yet the music never becomes overwhelming. Instead, the song feels like an emotional release.
The instrumentation works together to create a dense, melancholic sound, with the vocals bringing vulnerability to the surface. Dreamspeed have an unusual ability to express intense emotions without losing the delicate qualities beneath them. While the heavy metal influences are unmistakable, there is also something darkly enchanting about the track. Beneath the musical chaos sits a slightly whimsical quality, giving the song an atmosphere that feels almost otherworldly.
The emotional storytelling continues with ‘So Sleep’, beginning with slow, eerie guitar that immediately creates a connection before a single word has been sung. There is a particular skill in creating such a strong emotional response through instrumentation alone, and Dreamspeed demonstrate that beautifully here.
Rather than allowing the vocals to dominate the music, they accompany the instruments, adding to the emotion rather than creating it entirely. Extended instrumental passages give the guitar room to shine, supported by steady, comforting drums and bass that add depth and structure to the arrangement. Each instrument has its place, contributing to the emotional integrity of the song without competing for attention.
For much of the opening, the absence of lyrics allows the listener to become immersed in the atmosphere. When the vocals intensify around the three-minute mark, the words suddenly carry greater weight. What began as a slow, almost comforting experience becomes urgent, fast and punchy, bringing a sense of emotional desperation that wasn't present in the opening moments.
It's another example of Dreamspeed's ability to use musical dynamics as a storytelling device. Rather than simply writing songs, the band create experiences that allow listeners to imagine their own narratives within the music.
However, it's ‘Nothing But Hell’ that stands out as my favourite track on the EP. Raw, emotionally intense, complex and genuinely moving, this is a song that captures everything Dreamspeed do exceptionally well.
There is an extraordinary vulnerability within the music. The instruments seem to play with one another, almost supporting and holding the emotional weight of the lyrics. Slow, melancholic and dark, the track is both technically skilful and emotionally intelligent. Every element feels purposeful, allowing the song to communicate feelings that can be difficult to articulate.
When Gunn delivers the words, “You gave me nothing but hell,” the emotional weight behind them is undeniable. There is heartbreak, grief and loss within that single line, and the surrounding instrumentation allows those emotions to exist without overwhelming them.
As the song progresses, you can almost feel the different stages of grief unfolding. Sadness gives way to anger, remorse, frustration and a sense of emotional exhaustion. It's messy, vulnerable and painfully honest.
Yet despite that emotional chaos, the musicianship remains remarkably controlled. The band manage to balance technical precision with the rawness of the performance, creating something that feels deeply human. I haven't experienced such a cathartic connection to a new song in quite some time.
There is something particularly powerful about music that doesn't simply describe emotion but allows you to experience it. ‘Nothing But Hell’ achieves exactly that, becoming the emotional centrepiece of Demo and a remarkable demonstration of Dreamspeed's potential.
Following such an emotionally demanding track, ‘Interlude’ arrives as a welcome moment of calm. Soft guitar riffs and gentle, rhythmic drums create a soothing atmosphere, offering listeners an opportunity to rest and process everything they've just experienced. It almost feels like a musical palate cleanser.
Despite being noticeably more subdued than the surrounding tracks, ‘Interlude’ fits naturally within the EP's progression. Rather than interrupting the storytelling, it becomes an important part of it. After the emotional weight of the previous songs, this moment of stillness feels necessary, as though Dreamspeed are allowing listeners to catch their breath before the final chapter.
Closing the EP, ‘Corpse Light’ returns to the darkness that has defined much of the listening experience, but something feels different this time. While the slow tempo, heavy instrumentation and emotionally charged vocals remain, there is a greater sense of empowerment within the music.
Where earlier tracks explored vulnerability, grief and emotional turmoil, ‘Corpse Light’ feels like a release of everything that has come before it. The drums are particularly prominent, creating a strong foundation beneath the intense vocals and distorted guitars. A chaotic yet skilfully executed drum passage brings another surge of energy, reinforcing the song's sense of strength.
There is still darkness, but for the first time, it feels as though there is more light than shade. The emotional chaos hasn't disappeared, but the perspective has shifted. Rather than feeling consumed by the story, there is a sense of emerging from it. It's chaotic but strangely inspirational, offering a powerful and intelligent conclusion to an EP that has explored some incredibly complex emotions.
Dreamspeed's Demo is an emotionally intelligent and musically skilful debut that demonstrates an impressive understanding of atmosphere, vulnerability and storytelling.
What stands out most is the band's ability to balance contrasting emotions. Their music can be aggressive without becoming overwhelming, delicate without losing strength and melancholic without feeling entirely hopeless. Throughout the EP, the relationship between the instruments and vocals is particularly impressive. Rather than competing for attention, each element supports the others, allowing the emotional weight of the music to develop naturally.
There is a cinematic quality to Dreamspeed's songwriting. Listening feels like stepping into a dark fantasy, following an antihero through moments of loneliness, grief, anger and eventual release. It's not always comfortable, but that's part of what makes it so compelling.
For a band formed just over a year ago, Dreamspeed have created something remarkably cohesive, with a distinct identity that deserves attention within Australia's heavy music scene.
Demo is dark, vulnerable, chaotic yet controlled and unexpectedly beautiful. Sometimes, the most powerful music isn't what you hear. It's what you are made to feel.
