Who is Bastille? Yes, they are a band, but can you name five songs by them? No?…probably because they only have two or three songs that have gone viral. This is not a bad thing, though. To be honest, I think this makes their hits even more memorable than bands who produce multiple mediocre songs.

2012 – Bastille releases “Pompeii” which is hands down their most recognizable track, not only due to its beat and rhythm, but because of Bastille’s combination of unique voices.

It took Bastille a while to release another hit: 2018 to be exact. They came out with some singles here and there, along with an album or two, but nothing really stood out from the other thousands of songs being produced. In 2018, however, Bastille recorded a song with Marshmello titled “Happier,” hitting the charts at #1 in the ‘Alternative Song’ category and in the ‘Hot Dance/Electronic’ category. Today, April 30th, it sits at #32 on iTunes’ Top Songs. This specific song release boosted their popularity, allowing them to jump back into the competitive music industry.

Just five days ago, April 25th, “Doom Days” was released, making up the second track in their newest album, also titled “Doom Days”.

After listening to this hit the first time, I was drawn into the tune itself, disregarding the actual words and meanings. I then found time to go back and listen to what was being sung, which only increased my interest for the song and the band.

This piece emphasizes how the world and its people are heading in the wrong direction. Although disappointing, it is good to hear such a powerful message in such a powerful piece. This release isn’t like your normal happy, ‘everything’s ok’ song. It is real, making it a must hear. Clocking in at 2 minutes and 20 seconds, it isn’t as long as your normal song, which may seem like a message isn’t there, but in my opinion, it is the complete opposite. There are no buffer lyrics. Everything that is needed to be said is said, providing the audience the opportunity to understand its true meaning and potential.

Lines like “God knows what is real and what is fake” and “let’s pick the truth we believe in” prove the point that our society has transformed into something that will get the best of us in the end. The doom days are among us, and if we don’t change our poor habits now, the only thing we will care about are things like false truths and even our phones, as one of the lines reads, “think I’m addicted to my phone….livestreaming the final days of Rome.” We have come to the point where something as beautiful as Rome must be documented on an electronic device to be appreciated, when there are better ways and better perspectives to view the world we live in. By the end of the song, Dan Smith, Bastille’s lead singer, understands the negative effects of the doom days, and sings, “so I put my phone down, fall into the night with you.”

After reading, listening to, and comprehending the lyrics, this release makes it into my top 10 favorite songs of all times, and trust me, being picky with my music choices, this isn’t an easy task.

Combining the meaning of the song with the distinctive voices of the band members and the realness of the beat, “Doom Days” is bringing Bastille in the right direction. I hope they continue to produce music in this genre, because if so, future generations will be given the opportunity to enjoy quality music.