It’s been a year since Des Rocs unleashed his sophomore effort Dream Machine to the world. Seemingly not content with this full package, Danny Rocco is back bringing forth Dream Machine: The Lucid Edition (Sumerian Records) to eagerly waiting ears. 

With an additional three tracks and bonus editions, Rocco is willing to show the world more sides to his solo work.

“A Smoking Gun” begins the next stage of his album, slowly bringing the audience back with a slow, clean guitar melody, layers slowly building on top of this lone guitar riff. Rocco joins the moody ensemble, building up tension with each iteration of “I will survive.” 

This introduction track is reminiscent of Des Rocs’ peers in Grandson. This is all slowly built to half way through the song where Rocco launches into one of his fantastic Muse-inspired, bombastic riffs that turns the song upside down. “A Smoking Gun” is the perfect catalyst of what makes Des Rocs’ songs tick to begin the new section to his second album.

Highlighting one of the big hits on the album, Des Rocs brings on a new light for the big song, “In The Night.” Bringing on Metalcore superstars Underoath as a collaboration brings a whole new darker and edgier side to the song. The band and Rocco worked perfectly in tandem with each other. 

Secondly, a live recording of the same track in New York earlier on in the year really does well to show how well Rocs’s music translates to the live setting. One of those choruses that brings out the crowds to sing along in unison.

For a lot of artists, a deluxe or reimagining of a released album can lead audiences to call it a cash-grab, at most cynical. For Des Rocs however, the new tracks give last year’s triumphant album a whole new lease on life and almost a glimpse into what could be coming next for the rock star. If the bonus tracks are as good as this, album three will go beyond.

Buy the album here:
https://desrocs.com/

7 / 10
CHARLIE HILL
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