At 5 p.m. today, the Light in the Cave tour will make its second-to-last stop at Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington St. Among the bands performing will be I See Stars, an electronic hard-core band hailing from Warren, Michigan, and Chunk No, Captain Chunk, a hard-core group with roots in Paris. Joining them will be Exit, Emergency, Get Scared, and White Noise.

I See Stars brands itself as a electronic hard-core music, a description that, to some, might seem contradictory but accurately describes the group’s sound. The traditional screams, breakdowns, and fierce guitar riffs commonly associated with hard-core music are fused with energetic beats and synth melodies to create a sound undeniably modern.

The band explains it best in a statement it put out prior to the release of its 2013 album, New Demons:
“We aim to break the walls down between electronic hard-core and hard-core cultures around the world. We believe these two worlds are far closer than meets the ear and eye and use this opportunity as a platform for new ideas and new music to flourish.”

I See Stars has been through a bit of turmoil in the past year, with longtime members Jimmy Gregerson and Zach Johnson leaving the band to pursue other projects. After going through lineup changes toward the end of the year, the current arrangement is Brent Allen (guitar), Devin Oliver (vocals), Andrew Oliver (keys/synth/drums), and Jeff Valentine (bass).

With Johnson gone, Oliver has had to step to the plate and start doing the unclean vocals in addition to the clean vocals for which he is better known. It’s no small feat, but his efforts so far have been met with praise from many fans.

I See Stars has been on tour since early February and has teased some new songs both online and at shows, leading some fans to speculate a new album is imminent.

The group also recently released single “Mobbin’ Out” in February but didn’t specify whether the track was a one-off or part of a future project.

The most recent full-length release from I See Stars came in the form of Phases, an 11-track record featuring raw and unplugged versions of the band’s existing songs as well as a few cover tracks. Phases threw the screaming and electronics go out the window, replaced by acoustic instruments and pianos. The adventurous effort was well-received by fans, but the anticipation for a new full-length album with all the bells and whistles is palpable.

MUSIC
I See Stars, Chunk No, Captain Chunk
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: Gabe’s, 330 E. Washington
Admission: $16-$20