HeartBeatHero - Rise to the Stars

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

HeartBeatHero’s Rise to the Stars carries listeners on a diverse synth journey across fascinating soundscapes and a multiplicity of moods and atmospheres. I enjoy the way in which each track is quite individual, but the unifying themes of strong melodies, emotional depth and a masterful use of synth sounds link them all together.

One of the standout features for me on Rise to the Stars is the way in which it transports me through mood and emotion. Some tracks burst with exuberance and others ache with sorrow, while moments of explosive power mingle with quiet contemplation. The end result is a sonic journey that is exciting and engaging as it unfolds.

Another way in which Rise to the Stars draws me in is related to HeartBeatHero’s ability to write excellent melodies. For those of you who have read my work for a while, you know that I am a sucker for a well-composed melody. This album is brimming over with ear-catching, heart-grabbing melodies that are memorable and convey the mood of each track effectively.

I'm enamoured of the way in which HeartBeatHero is able to weave together all of Rise to the Stars’ different auditory elements to create an intricate tapestry. He skillfully takes the different textures, tones and timbres of the various synth sounds and carefully curates them to produce a layered, aurally intriguing musical experience that continues to move and please me.

I also want to observe that while I enjoy the way in which the artwork fits the album, it would be good to see the talents of a visual artist used rather than AI generated images.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Rise to the Stars” commences as broadly slicing synth rings out in a leaping pattern to create motion. The melodic pattern varies as luminous notes cut in while colossal bass and punchy drums slam in a driving heartbeat.

Angular sounds slash through the music and the drums rebound while brilliant notes cry out with dramatic majesty. Slowly floating, sharply shining synth arpeggios revolve while the drums flourish. The pumping percussive heartbeat reestablishes itself as medium-high, gleaming synth carries the victorious melody high above the hard-edged low end.

I enjoy the sensations of soaring triumph that permeate the melody as it unfolds. Glistening, flashing arpeggios continue to undulate as string-like synth intertwines with intense illumination. Gigantic drums and bass batter again, adding dynamic energy as reverent notes glow in the background and the track slowly fades to silence.

Cosmic sounds zap as slowly throbbing bass comes in to open "When I was just a kid." As the bass continues to throb, softly swirly pastel sounds move along with Daniel Barton's dynamic voice. He delivers the lyrics as delicate notes spread outward. Now a brilliant synth leaps with optimism above the vocals as they echo with joyful, uplifting emotion.

Daniel Barton's voice is warm and delivers a hit of nostalgia with a sweet touch that I enjoy. Deep emotion fills the vocals as the positive melodic energy seeps through the music above the throbbing low end. Gem-like notes softly tremble while Daniel Barton’s voice swells with happy feelings. As the different vocal layers intermingle, a blazing synth jumps as the words capture memory and youthful freedom. The glistening notes shimmer until the track ends.

The narrator talks about the excitement he felt as a child, hitting a home run or kicking a football. He was always ready to give it his all, saying, “I gave it my soul.” He recalls everyone gathering around the radio as the “awesome music” brought them together.

Our storyteller describes diving into the pool, slipping and sliding. He remembers riding his BMX bike with his "hat pulled back," riding into the sunset with "the wind in my face, bobbing my head to the sound of the bass."

To conclude, the narrator shares how he loves thinking about all the things that happened when he was just a kid. He remembers not having responsibilities and being free to live his life.

“God of Fire” breathes to life as a choral synth creates dark drama and trumpeting notes flash with burning light. The choir creates a timeless feeling as the blaring, brassy synth is joined by a churning guitar that thunders with raging muscle. The melody generates imagery of terrifying power before mellow notes hover and arpeggiate.

The guitar cuts again, radiance pouring out as the drums burst in short explosions. Snarling guitar notes crash with threatening, rapid force and the low end pounds with unstoppable energy. The track is full of a resonant xylophone now, trembling as peaceful sounds unfold.

Arpeggios spin again as the choir adds depth. I am compelled by the contrast and auditory richness of this track. Bright synth calls out with a towering melody that exudes a sense of triumphal energy before the track ends.

Threatening bass trembles as terrifying exhalations move to start "Friday the 13th." Now the drums crash with massive force and the threatening bass batters with a sense of impending doom. Tensely wound, oscillating synth adds to the feelings of creeping danger that permeate the music.

As sweeping sound rushes and the drums rebound, the bass tangles to add to the urgency of the track. As the nervous arpeggios undulate, a delicious shiver travels down my spine. Twisted sounds howl into the music with tortured terror, feeling worried as the feverish synth writhes in spectral motion and the shuddering bass rumbles.

Slowly bending notes melt through the music with ectoplasmic sensations while the tightly twirling synth shifts. Grating notes wriggle with uncomfortable feelings as a distant synth knots through the music in unsettling lines. The brightly gnarled synth moves with contorted sensations before the track falls silent on unsettling bass.

“Neon Nitro” starts off as elevated, glittering synth trickles out into echoing space as bass touches the other sounds. Jagged synth cuts in sharp lines as colossal bass sweeps with shadowed import. A beaming synth rings out in an elegiac melody as the drums and bass form a slamming, ferociously moving beat below.

Hollow sounding arpeggios spin in continual motion above the propulsive low end. Raised, flashing sounds leap outwards as the drums fade and shadowy voices chant while the bass flows. Rough-edged synth calls out in bursts as gigantic bass slices in growling lines.

The melody glistens and yearns as it glides through the track. Drums and bass pound with forceful speed and entangling arpeggios twirl through the music with unstoppable dynamism. I can picture myself blurring past a landscape of neon lit buildings in a city from an alternate future as the track unfolds.

Bells ring, chimes sparkle and a quickly ticking hi-hat guides the music to open “The Main Theme.” A slightly twisting, ringing synth bends before triumphantly trumpeting notes cry out, full of majesty and colossal strength.

Military drums throb as the victorious synth rises, projecting ancient nobility and a sense of perseverance. A raised synth shines and rippling arpeggios cut with gruff edges while the bass undulates and the drums hit hard.

A vocal synth trembles with full-sounding notes as the low end continues to smoothly undulate. Raised, dancing notes flash and a glimmering, string-like synth calls out with a feeling of strength as the drums add military precision. Once again, the rapidly undulating, gliding low end shifts as the choral synth trembles. The drums cascade while the majestic melody calls out, lifting my heart with it.

“Cats Forever” begins as colossally heaving bass moves with the sound of cats meowing in the background. The bass is solid and dark as it throbs heavily and the cat sounds add a unique quality. Metallic, bright sounds tremble and rapid lines add tension to the deeply pounding low end.

A sweeping sound winds through and the drums rebound as medium-high, enigmatically swirling notes drift above the cat sounds. A bell rings and tumbling noises move with fragile chime in the distance. A broadly echoing synth dances in shimmering lines, full of acrobatic energy like the cats of the song's title.

The drums continue to punch as sharp notes slice with keen edges. All of the cats mew n the distance as the deeply vibrating, actively shifting synth is cut by a steady high pulse.

Strings flow with elegant motion and the low end launches in a dynamically, angularly leaping line as the bass rises and the drums hit hard with clapping percussion. Depth fills the background as ticking drums move along with sweeping, twirling notes and the track ends.

Rapidly cascading, sharp synth falls through the music to kick off “Not Forgotten.” Lambent notes form a hypnotic pulse, as they tumble over and over. Now the rebounding kick drum throbs as the flashing notes continue to hypnotically pulsate. The drum pounds hard to create a massive heartbeat while the repeating notes entrance me.

The notes are joined by fat bass that thuds with muscled weight, further driving the music. As the slicing notes interlock, feelings of mechanical processes fill my mind. The melody that comes in on a trembling synth is affectionate and full of hopeful emotion, filling me with warming sensations.

As the melodic pattern repeats, the trance-inducing low end continues to pulsate. Luscious chords fill the distance as the shining notes trip in repetitive motion. The low end continues to chug forward with powerful motion as the enfolding chords float.

A computerized-sounding synth dances in uplifting motion as the thundering low end continues to drive. The way in which all of these different layers intermingle is ear-pleasing and compelling for me.

Now a clean snare drum adds a ticking feeling as the dense low end continues to push. The repeating pattern tumbles with meditative brightness. As the track drives toward the end, the celebratory melody sings out again above the thudding low end.

Conclusion

Rise To The Stars is a thoroughly pleasing listening experience. I enjoy the wide variety of emotional states and powerfully drawn imagery which fills the music and showcases HeartBeatHero’s ability to compose and create first-rate synth-based music.