Wish Upon a Blackstar

Personnel: Klayton (vocals, programming).
Photographer: Chuck Wheeler.
As Celldweller, Detroit-via-New York producer Klayton has molded a synthesis of several extreme musical forms, smashing the more aggressive elements of dubstep, drum'n'bass, and industrial into contemporary metal and arena rock. Wish Upon a Blackstar is Celldweller's magnum opus, a work in progress since 2004 and released in various chapters beginning in 2009 before finally culminating in a proper album release in 2012. So many years in the making and with such a grandiose array of styles, every last thing about the album screams "epic," from the blitzkrieg-loud production to the nonstop arrangements. Even the quieter songs are dense with layers of electronics, metal guitar riffs, and meshes of drum tracks, electronic and not. Songs like "Eon," "Birthright," and "Louder Than Words" are driven by Klayton's anguished vocals and extreme production aesthetic. ~ Fred Thomas