Story by Maddy Howell /// Photo by Alex Beamis 

When Dayseeker dropped their defining fifth full-length Dark Sun in 2022, it was unlike any venture they had embarked upon before.

Written in the wake of frontman Rory Rodriguez’s father’s passing from cancer, it was an album steeped in grief - direct, devastating, and unflinchingly personal. Delving deep into the raw realities of loss, the weight of its honesty resonated deeply with fans, but for the band themselves it left a lingering question. After pouring so much of yourself into one record… What comes next?

“Songwriting is how I process things and get through them,” Rodriguez reflects.

“It was challenging to write about my dad so much, but thankfully I had a couple of years to deal with it on my own terms after the record came out. That was funny, because – aside from his passing – I realised things were actually going well. The band was in a good place, I have a kid and everything felt great. I didn’t even know what to write about that would have that melancholic feel to it, because I wasn’t in that space.”

But life, as it so often does, had other plans. In an almost comical ‘hold my beer’ moment, what followed were new struggles, fractured relationships and lessons learned about trust, identity and self-protection. That turbulence laid the foundation for Creature In The Black Night, a record that trades blunt sorrow and self-indulgence for a newfound confidence. Exploring his changing relationships with those around him following the band’s success, it’s a collection of songs that find Rodriguez in a state of refection and restoration.

“I used to be really trusting of almost anybody that would enter my life,” the vocalist nods.

“I felt that everyone was well-intentioned, but since the band has grown, I’ve had a few personal relationships go sideways.”

Recorded in two parts - the first taking place in September 2024 - the album retains the emotional core that has long defined the band, but funnels that into a fresh horror-inspired aesthetic. The likes of ‘Pale Moonlight’, ‘Shapeshifter’ and ‘Crawl Back To My Coffin’ coming early in the process, the band opted to lean into the emerging theme as a loose concept for their next era.

“It was totally unplanned. We ended up with this recurring ‘creature’ character throughout the album, and we had this creepy voice effect on a lot of the songs,” Rodriguez explains.

“I wouldn’t say I’m a huge horror fan, but I’ve watched more horror in the last few years than I have throughout the rest of my entire life. I don’t know why that’s the case, but I’ve definitely been more interested in them recently. It coming out in the music was a subconscious thing though, it wasn’t like we went into this record looking to do something like Ice Nine Kills.”

Coming to life with the assistance of artist Ryan Sanders, the hooded reaper-esque figure that stands central in the cover artwork helped bind the album’s vision. A dark, eerie presence contrasted with the bright, hopeful pink hues of its background, it allowed Dayseeker to lean into sonic territory they had yet to explore.

One of the biggest shifts this time around is lyrical. Following the stark bleakness of Dark Sun and the dreamy, immersive soundscape of 2019’s Sleeptalk – both records that saw Rodriguez expel emotion in a gut-wrenchingly literal fashion - Creature In The Black Night thrives in metaphor and cinematic symbolism. Allowing himself to be less on-the-nose in his lyricism and enjoying the creative joy of songwriting, it brought a fresh change of pace that Rodriguez is now recognising.

“Honestly, I didn’t even realise that until you pointed it out,” he ponders.

“It’s so true, though. Previously, I’ve been outspoken about what each song is about, but a lot of the tracks on this record aren’t exactly what they appear to be. ‘Shapeshift’ is an open letter to my anxiety and panic attacks, whilst ‘Pale Moonlight’ is about vices and giving into things that you know are toxic for you.”

“It’s the same with ‘Crawl Back To My Coffin.’ That one’s super figurative. I’m writing from the perspective of somebody who has died and is brought back to life by a new romantic relationship. They get their hopes up that it’s going to work out, and then they’re killed again and crawl back to their coffin. It’s metaphorical, but it relates to this idea of meeting a new person and getting excited. Then, something happens, and your walls go back up.”

That figurative edge hits hardest on ‘The Living Dead’, a slow-burning ballad rooted in Rodriguez’s own therapy sessions. Laden with imagery of zombies and death, it’s a deeply personal reflection on the emotional numbness the frontman has struggled with throughout his life, and the disconnect he often experiences when confronting his own feelings. 

“My mom had an addiction to methamphetamine when I was a kid. At seven years old, I thought she was a typical mom, but as I got older, I started to realise that wasn’t the case,” he says.

“I found myself in a lot of intense, stressful situations at a young age, and I always thought that I handled my emotions well and that nothing could get to me. I spoke to my therapist about it, and she said that I was compartmentalising. My body’s natural response when something heavy comes along is to do a shitty duct tape job on it, and push it to one side. That way, it lingers, but I’m numb to how intense the real emotion should be.”

Whilst it may take a slightly different form this time around, that kind of lyrical honesty has always been at the heart of Dayseeker. Growing up, music was a lifeline for Rodriguez - a way to feel seen and heard when nothing else provided stability. Learning to process his emotions and experiences through songwriting, the band has now become a vessel to provide that sense of catharsis and belonging to others. A projection of the darkness and light that reflects the human experience, it’s a reminder that no matter how hopeless things feel, you’re never alone.

“When I was growing up streaming didn’t exist. I’d hear a song I liked, go to Tower Records, and spend $20 on an album in the hope that I liked the rest of the tracks,” he smiles.

“If I was having a hard day, I’d sit with my boombox CD player and listen to bands like Linkin Park. It was music that was melancholy in its tone, but those people seemed to understand what I was going through. It was haunting and sad, but also pretty, and it made me feel better.”

“Now, we’ve reached this full circle moment. Our music offers that to other people going through break-ups, grief, addiction, or other struggles. I think that’s what makes our band special. There are some bands whose lyrics sound like words thrown at a dartboard, and I wonder if it really means anything. It doesn’t feel like it has any soul in it. I’m thankful that every song we write is deeply rooted in something real.”

Ultimately, honesty remains Dayseeker’s most powerful weapon. A place for Rodriguez and his bandmates to explore themselves as both musicians and individuals, they’ve forged a community unafraid to bare their flaws, and that’s precisely what Creature In The Black Night does best.

Confident, cinematic, and deeply human, it’s an album that feels distinctly aligned with all that Dayseeker represent. Focused on the intricate threads that bind our experiences as humankind, and the inevitable ebbs and flows that connect our unique journeys, its eleven tracks are a powerful reminder of all that it means to be alive.

“There’s no denying that this record is a different swing at songwriting for us,” Rodriguez finishes.

“Underneath the themes of horror and death and the dark romantic vibe, I hope people can see that we’re still the same band. We’re still writing this highly emotional, therapeutic music, and if they listen from front to back… I think people will hear that. It’s important that no matter where our creativity takes us, our music offers people a safe space if they have something they need to escape from. That’s what it always did for me as a teenager.”

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Creature In the Black Night from Dayseeker arrives October 24th via Spinefarm. Get the album - HERE