The wait for Madmans Esprit’s fourth full-length album, Dandelion; Danzetsu is finally over. Fans have been on the edge of their seats impatiently waiting for March 30 to see what the band has been concocting since revealing the haunting music video for Dandelion.

The last full album Naneun naleul tonghae ulileul boneun neoleul tonghae naleul bonda (나는 나를 통해 우리를 보는 너를 통해 나를 본다), released in 2022, greatly expanded Madmans Esprits’ international presence. The new entry Dandelion; Danzetsu, continues to expand the band’s international presence along with improvements in all areas of performance, production, and composition.

The tracks throughout the album cover so much ground, taking a variety of influences and blending them together into completely unique and emotional metal-centered compositions. Through Dandelion; Danzestu, Madmans Esprit demonstrates mastery within metal subgenres, ranging from metalcore to black metal, even showcasing some progressive elements.

Dandelion; Danzetsu also features updated versions of the previously released tracks: Please Stop Loving Me, Mismatch, and Tsuiraku (墜落). The new rerecorded versions of these tracks feature a bigger, heavier, and clearer production style to fit in cohesively with the rest of the album. Differences in the performance breathe new life into the tracks, ranging from small alterations, which may go unheard in the first listen, to huge changes such as the inhuman chorus screams in Please Stop Loving Me.

Every track of Dandelion; Danzestu offers something different and expands upon the already established sound of Madmans Esprit. Some standout tracks on the album, which best show the diverse range of styles, include:

Insaengeun aleumdawo (인생은 아름다워)

인생은 아름다워

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The opening track of Dandelion; Danzetsu, Insaengeun aleumdawo, sets the tone for the album. The nauseating sound of hissing bugs with heavily distorted and manipulated voices begins the track before being cut off by vocalist Kyuho. An old-school vocal melody evocative of traditional rock over a screeching guitar sounds so old-fashioned. As the screams and down-tuned guitars are added, the familiar Madmans Esprit sound becomes recognizable. The combination of traditional and metal influences works so well and presents a side of Madmans Esprit never heard before. As the sound of bugs returns later on in the track, the distorted voices transform into the sweet, innocent voices of children playing, creating an unnerving feeling before an extreme, heavy outro ends the track.

Jinnunkkaebi (진눈깨비)

진눈깨비

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Jinnunkkaebi is one of the most memorable tracks on the album, perfect for all types of metal listeners. The whole of the track, Jinnunkkaebi, is a hook with a repeating, clean guitar riff and addictive chorus that stays in your head for days. Despite aligning more with a catchy metalcore track, Madmans Esprit still finds space to throw in brutal breakdowns with barely human screams. Every instrument in the track works together to create a fun, upbeat experience. The bass and drums from Geon and Limu, respectively, create a strong backbone, allowing guitar and vocals to take the spotlight without sounding small and thin.

Jahae jigjeonui gwanggiwa gadeug chan bulan (자해 직전의 광기와 가득 찬 불안)

자해 직전의 광기와 가득 찬 불안

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Coming up straight after Jinnunkkaebi in the tracklist, Jahae jigjeonui gwanggiwa gadeug chan bulan takes things in a different direction. The black metal-inspired track showcases the band’s versatility within metal subgenres. Guitarists Juho and Somyul demonstrate how brutal their guitar playing can get with the track’s opening riff and various breakdowns. Although the track may be heavy, Kyuho still finds moments to showcase his angelic singing, taking melodies to unexpected places, matching the darker harmonic structure of Jahae jigjeonui gwanggiwa gadeug chan bulan.

Eondeogeulobuteo (언덕으로부터)

언덕으로부터

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Eondeogeulobuteo is a slow-tempo track overflowing with emotion. The beautiful harmony between the two guitar parts provides Kyuho with an angelic symphony to lay down his sorrows. As the intensity of the song evolves, so do Kyuho’s vocals, adding ever more rasp with each passage, ending with heart-wrenching screams. Eondeogeulobuteo showcases to the fullest extent Madmans Esprit’s ability to create an emotional track; every instrument works together perfectly, and by removing one, the whole composition would fall apart.

The outpouring of emotion leads perfectly into the slow introduction of the last track of the album, the 10-minute emotional roller coaster Dandelion. Take a look below to refresh your memory of the Dandelion music video showcasing the haunting visual style representing the album:

Madmans Esprit - Dandelion [Official Video]

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There are many more unforgettable moments from the 12 tracks of Dandelion; Danzetsu, so if you like what you hear in the highlighted tracks, consider taking a listen to the full album. Available physically from the nO aUTHORITY sHOP and digitally through streaming and digital sale services worldwide; links are available in the music entry at the bottom of the page.