This Day In Music History: January 20th, 2017: Starset explode with the cinematic, space-themed ‘Vessels’

First emerging in 2014 with the sleeper hit debut album Transmissions (which spawned hit singles like “My Demons”), Starset have emerged as one of a handful of ambitious bands who are adept at blending high-concept themes, electronic soundscapes, and heavier rock music together.

The follow-up to Transmissions, Vessels, was released on January 20th, 2017. Buoyed by massive singles “Ricochet” and “Monster” (the latter might well be their signature song at this point), the record cemented the band’s place as one of rock’s more forward-thinking and experimental outfits. While merging electronic and rock music isn’t anything super new at this point, Starset have done it far better than many other bands who’d make lesser attempts at the same. There’s also the matter of the band’s high-concept space themes, and though they aren’t absolutely essential to the music’s enjoyment, it gives even more of a unique flair and ambition to what Starset do best. That ambition has also proven to be highly successful in resonating with a mass audience, as several of the album’s tracks rank among their most successful.