Establishing the mood with a cerebral and dimensional alternative rock soundscape with fierce guitars and textured drums, One Empty Toybox open Cyberstalking with subversion and intrigue. The opus expands with industrial grit and a thought-provoking concept.
We immediately connect with the raw authenticity and the concept of the song. We could imagine this being featured in a film like the recent Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another. As for the narrative, there is an obvious sentiment to the lyricism, but a deeper, more philosophical play at stake on a societally zeitgeist level.
The guitar work is sublime and intricate, and the dynamism of the mix with astral 8-bit notions keeps us enthralled throughout. The middle eight taps into a higher emotional quotient with the direct reference to star-crossed lovers before a meditative moment and final reprise.
Speaking on the release, One Empty Toybox, also known as Rob Dreyer and Nicholas Viltrakis, poignantly comment, “The title says it all. In our current modern world, the internet has not only become a wealth of information, but also a dangerous platform where cyber threats are everywhere. With the birth and maturity of AI, it has become extremely difficult to trust anything posted online. This song highlights one potential threat: cyberstalking (a.k.a. Technology-assisted stalking or technology-facilitated abuse).”
There is something rather intelligent about the way One Empty Toybox approach such a serious and contemporary subject matter. Cyberstalking has a playful, almost mischievous energy on the surface, but underneath is a much darker examination of technology, obsession, identity and the increasingly blurred boundaries of privacy in the digital age. The Romeo and Juliet reference is especially effective and reframes that familiar tragedy through the language of modern cyberspace.
The fact that the song is also being used to raise awareness and support victims of stalking gives the release an added sense of purpose with the profits from Cyberstalking being donated to Stop Stalking Us.
Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added Cyberstalking to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of the band, including Neon Dreams, Cruising Lucid, and Building the Bridge.