A long time ago…in 2013, a message was sent out from space, and luckily, Starset was there to transmit. Initially formed by Downplay Vocalist Dustin Bates, Startset began their career with a fictional backstory, releasing their album Transmissions, which includes the single “My Demons” that reached over 280 million YouTube views. Thus, Transmissions debuted at number 49 on the US Billboard 200 Charts and launched the career of a very compelling Hard Rock band.
Led by Dustin Bates (on lead vocals, keyboards, piano, synths, guitars, soundboard and programming), there is also Ron DeChant (on bass, keyboards, backing vocals), Brock Richards (on guitars, backing vocals), Adam Gilbert (on drums, percussion), plus more recent additions, Siobhan Richards (on violin, keyboards), Zuzana Engererova (on cello), and Cory Juba (on guitars, synths, soundboard, and drum pads). It is essential to dig a little deeper into the past to understand where everything began.
As stated, Transmissions was a massive start, but 2016’s Vessels (which included the huge single “Monster”) peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in May 2017. In 2018, they released Vessels 2.0, followed by Divisions in 2019 and Horizons in 2021. With the release of Horizons, a collaboration with Breaking Benjamin followed, along with more tour dates. Then, in the spring of 2024, Starset put out a new single entitled “BRAVE NEW WORLD,” and once more, they were topping charts.
Several more promotional singles followed, like “DEGENERATE” and “DYSTOPIA”; however, there was no official announcement of a new album. Leaving many fans curious, after a few more exciting singles in 2025 (such as a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Head Over Heels”), at last, in late August 2025, it was announced that the band’s new album SILOS would arrive on September 12th through Fearless Records.
Exciting to everyone who has followed Starset from the beginning, and especially over the last twelve months, SILOS awards them with a nearly an hour-long record. Including five interludes and two covers, the opening of the sixteen-track album is “praesens.” From here, Bates utilizes heavy distortion and effects on his voice in the following track “DEGENERATE,” which includes heavy synths and their much recognizable electronic sounds. With that in mind, Bates uses more effects and distortion on “BRAVE NEW WORLD” and track thirteen, “TOKSIK.” These, in particular, are all quite heavy and have that same electric, spacey feel as their original sound.
Moving on, the cover of Johnny Hates Jazz’s 1987 hit “SHATTERED DREAMS” is a must listen. Here, Starset infuses the song with big emotion and a modern vibe without obliterating it, as some artists tend to do with cover songs. The same goes for their take on Tears for Fears’ 1985 hit “HEAD OVER HEELS,” where Starset adds a bit more dramatic style, while Bates’ voice really brings the lyrics home. Overall, the music makes you feel as if you are in a larger room, listening in the darkness.
This leads to the Silo’s finale, including “AD ASTRA,” a four-minute thirty-five-second song that is somewhat calm from a particular standpoint, ending with a big room sound. Thereafter, “requiem of the order” consists solely of music and a bit of background female vocals, with the violin and cello dominating the mood.
All in all, Starset is still killing it with their ability to create great storylines to match their musical efforts. Here’s to hoping that Startset will help save the world from annihilation, because Cryptic Rock gives Silos 5 out of 5 stars.
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