Yes, Dayseeker have brought out many reimagined versions of their songs, but ‘Replica’ takes top place. Their sixth studio album could be seen as a happy accident after the band's gear overheated at a gig in 2022. Right off the bat, vocalist Rory Rodriguez grabbed an acoustic guitar and performed ‘Without Me’, and just like that, he had created a five-song set for the sea of fans in front of him. Afterwards, Rodriquez felt like he had let his fans down, but it was quite the contrary. “So many friends say, 'Everyone will remember the day your equipment stopped working and you still played the set as a really special moment’'", he recalls. "It felt natural for our songs." And thus, ‘Replica’ was born, taking well-known fan favourites and stripping them back, creating a raw, intimate, fully acoustic album.

The album kicks off with ‘Sleeptalk (Acoustic)’. ‘Sleeptalk’ is a high-energy, slightly angry with oomphy undertones kind of track, whereas ‘Sleeptalk (Acoustic)’ has a calmer energy with a slight country vibe to it because of how Rodriguez has adapted his vocal tone for the song. Gorgeous, melodic guitar notes have been used instead of the prominent drumbeats in the track’s counterpart. The lyrics still have the same effect, with ‘Sleeptalk’ being the song you listen to when the storm inside of you is raging and ‘Sleeptalk (Acoustic)’ being the song you listen to when the same storm is in a more tranquil and calm state. 

The vocals on ‘Without Me (Acoustic) ft. Amber DeLaRosa’ aren’t too different from the original, but with the bonus of Amber DeLaRosa. The beautiful combination of Rodriguez and DeLaRosa harmonising scratched an itch in my brain. With the song being about an old relationship and asking the question of how the other party can feel the same even though they’re not in their life anymore, the introduction of a secondary vocalist could potentially be interpreted as both sides and feelings of the aftermath being shown.

‘Neon Grave (Acoustic)’ has ‘dreaming montage’ vibes, a bit nostalgic. A song about the passing of Rodriguez’s dad, both versions of the song are so emotionally driven, but the acoustic version just adds to the sentimentality of this song. The added sound effect towards the end of the song makes me think of fireworks going off in the distance.

Holding Absence frontman Lucas Woodland joins Dayseeker for ‘Starving to Be Empty (Acoustic)’. Both Rodriquez and Woodland have extremely powerful voices, and this has not strayed away in this acoustic track. And though in a softer environment, the grittiness of their vocals adds to the emotional depth of this song.

With ‘Homesick (Acoustic)’, my first initial thoughts were that the beginning chunk of the track sounded very similar to The 1975’s ‘Somebody Else’ due to the instrumental arrangement. However, the later chunks couldn’t be any more different. Unlike ‘Somebody Else’, ‘Homesick (Acoustic)’ has a bridge that gives an uplifting and motivational feel, ending the song with a high. As for the meaning behind this song, Rodriquez said in an interview with Boolin tunes, “[Homesick is] kind of about my dad’s passing, but it’s more in general about being in a dark period of your life but having peoples and places and experiences that make you feel like it’s okay to feel happy again even when you’re going through that.” The way the song is composed, starting with a lower, melancholic tone and then building to a more uplifting and hopeful feel, reflects how Rodriquez felt.

Unlike the other tracks on ‘Replica’, ‘Crying While You're Dancing (Acoustic)’ has more percussion, and just like the original, it opens with a solid drum groove with the other instruments of the song fading in. This added back beat automatically makes you want to have a little boogie (an acoustic boogie, of course), and the synths with the reverbed vocals make the song feel like a dream-state flashback to a prom in the 80s.

I’m partial to a few Beartooth songs, so I’m used to hearing Caleb Shomo shouting and screaming; however, hearing him on ‘Burial Plot (Acoustic)’ was a breath of fresh air. Like previously said, Dayseeker have released many renditions of their songs, this being the third officially released version of ‘Burial Plot’. With the added Shomo vocals, the song is completely transformed, showcasing what both he and Dayseeker are capable of.

‘Drunk (Acoustic)’ opens with soft piano notes and is shortly joined by Rodriguez’s vocals. In the original, it sounds like they’ve used a harmonizer, where the acoustic favours echoed and airy harmonies, giving a more chilling atmosphere.

‘Afterglow (Acoustic)’ will pull at your heartstrings, whether you’re a parent or not. From the lyrics, we can understand that the song is about the struggle of being a parent while on tour, missing milestones, and the fear of being forgotten. Unlike the original, it opens with an adorable sample of a young child getting us ready for the instruments to start (or getting us ready to be hit with all the feels). Though there is so much passion in both versions, the acoustic hits a little bit harder.

To close out the album, Dayseeker brings us ‘My Immortal (Acoustic)’, a cover of Evanescence’s 2003 piano ballad of the same name. Though not one of Dayseeker’s own songs, it fits the theme and toning of the album.

If you’re a fan of having a playlist of sad songs to relax and cry to, then this album needs to be added to it. The point of ‘Replica’ was for Dayseeker to showcase a whole new side of themselves, revealing the range of music that they can produce, and personally, I think they’ve smashed it.