Francis Doom - “Like Hell”
New Jersey-based Francis Doom has just released the stunning indie rock gem, “Like Hell.” The track has a lush, emotional intensity that is reminiscent of songs like Radiohead‘s “Creep.”
“Like Hell” opens to atmospheric, jangling electric guitar tones that are coated in a gorgeous layer of reverb. These dreamy sounds feel like they are emerging brightly from the distance. The chilled vibes are heightened by hazy synth textures and bright piano that mesmerizingly arpeggiates. As the track enters its main stride, it is pushed along at a slow cadence by a contrasting, harder-edged drum groove. The bass pulses warmly underneath, creating a solid foundation.
The song has an exuberant ebb and flow that allows different sounds to take centre stage. In the more intimate sections, delicate touches of dreamy, reverberated guitar or synth pads are allowed to breathe. As the dynamic intensity shifts, splashes of rapid staccato electric guitar soar over the composition, infusing the track with a sense of urgency, intensity, and excitement.
The vocal delivery is breathy and expressive, wonderfully imbuing a beautiful sense of melancholy. The emotional impact of the bittersweet lyrics is strikingly enhanced by subtle backing layers that support in all the right places. Francis Doom’s “Like Hell” is a song brimmed full of emotional intensity and rich guitar layers.