Horizons (Starset album) explained

Horizons
Type:	studio
Artist:	Starset
Cover:	Starset - Horizons.png
Released:	October 22, 2021
Recorded:	2020–2021
Length:	70:57
Label:	Fearless
Producer:	Dustin Bates Joe Rickard
Prev Title:	Divisions
Prev Year:	2019

Horizons is the fourth studio album by American rock band Starset. It was released on October 22, 2021.^[1]

Critical reception

Horizons has received positive reviews. Sonic Perspectivess Josh Muncke wrote, "Horizons is truly a step forward for Starset, and arguably a demonstration of them at their best. They've taken their past releases and distilled them all into an optimised collection of tracks, whilst introducing some new ideas to continue the concept narrative."^[2]

Wall of Sound lauded the album, singling out the tracks "Otherworldly", "Icarus", and "Symbiotic" as highlights. Writing for Kerrang!, Steve Beebee opined that "the galactic sense of scale in Horizons' orchestration enables all sixteen tracks to massage the emotions" and praised Starset for "explor[ing] our vulnerability, our very humanity".

Personnel

Musicians

• Dustin Bates – lead vocals
• Jasen Rauch – guitar, bass guitar
• Isaiah Perez – drums
• Lester Estelle – drums on "Disappear" and "Infected"
• Joe Rickard, Alex Niceforo – programming
• Garrison Turner – additional programming on "The Breach", "Dreamcatcher" and "This Endless Endeavor"
• Paul Trust – additional programming on "Devolution", "Earthrise" and "Icarus"
• Sahaj Ticotin – additional programming on "Otherworldly" and "Annihiliated Love"
• Igor Khoroshev – additional programming on "Infected"
• David Davidson, Conni Ellisor, David Angell, Carrie Bailey, Elizabeth Lamb – violins
• Seanad Chang – viola
• Paul Nelson – cello

Production

• Joe Rickard – producer, engineer
• Dustin Bates – executive producer
• Jasen Rauch – drum engineering
• Patrick Prophet – drum assistant engineer
• Dan Lancaster – mixing
• Niels Nielsen – mastering
• Alex Niceforo – programming
• Mike "Cowboy" Warren – guitar technician
• Taylor Pollert, Josh Keith – engineers
• Paul Trust – string arrangement and interludes
• Paul Nelson, Steve Mauldin – transcriptions and score preparation

Artwork

• TNSN DVSN – art direction and package design
• Jake Wangner – cover photo

Charts

Chart (2021)!scope="col"

Peak positions
UK Digital Albums (OCC)^[3]	22
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)^[4]	23
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)^[5]	10

Notes and References

1. Web site: Loudwire Horizons. Loudwire. 10 September 2021 . October 22, 2021.
2. Web site: Muncke. Josh. Starset - Horizons (Album Review). Sonic Perspectives. October 10, 2021. October 28, 2021.
3. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. October 29, 2021. November 9, 2022.
4. Starset Chart History (Top Current Album Sales). Billboard. November 9, 2022.
5. Starset Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums). Billboard. November 9, 2022.