SongWeb · Review · 28 August 2026
Their music can be dark without turning gloomy, philosophical without becoming pretentious, and playful without becoming frivolous.
SongWeb
“Chameleous have produced an album that is well worth listening to from start to finish.”
“The reason that Wicked Din holds together is that the band is willing to allow opposing ideas to exist alongside one another.”
“Wicked Din therefore proves to be a very appealing first album.”
“Instead, their sound comes across as experienced, curious, full of soul, and willing to embrace a strange idea.”
“The performances have the relaxed quality of experienced musicians who are playing together in the same room, and at the same time the songwriting ensures that the material remains solid and easy to remember.”
“The instruments have a cooperative rather than a congested feel, the rhythm section offering a solid base while the guitar-based textures and melodic elements provide the arrangements with their character and movement.”
“The production ensures that the lyrics remain clear and in the forefront, at the same time maintaining the natural atmosphere appropriate for an experienced six-piece group.”
“Equally important is the fact that the performances have a live atmosphere; the vocals do not come across as being separate from the band but rather as being a part of it.”
“The effect is not that of a performance but rather as if a promise is being made in real time.”
“The second track, The Beanstalk Speaks, has a more biting edge and displays a clever intelligence.”
“The story of Jack and the Beanstalk is used as an allegory for greed, power, ambition, and the consequences that follow, thus turning a well-known childhood tale into a much darker one.”
“The way the vocals are performed reflects the balance between fatigue and hope, and the music accepts the song's dreamlike quality rather than attempting to make it more conventional.”
“Musically, the song is enhanced by an atmospheric setup in which the instruments are just as important as the lyrics, giving it a smoky, late-night appeal.”
“It is playful, flirtatious, and a bit odd, focusing on chemistry rather than making bold declarations.”
“Because the way the voice is delivered is so important, it works by keeping the emotion just beneath the surface rather than making it into melodrama.”
“The repeated refrain gives the song a hypnotic effect.”
“The vocal performance has a brisk and open character, and the band seems particularly at ease in letting the song's rhythmic and melodic ideas develop freely.”
“This song presents heartbreak without any romantic embellishment.”
“As a final track, it leaves a lasting sense of sorrow that matches the album's broader preoccupation with connection, struggle, and survival.”
MichaelJamo for SongWeb. Originally published .
Read the original at SongWebReviews submitted to musosoup.com