Aries Welcomes Fans Back to 'WELCOME HOME' With 5th Anniversary Deluxe LP
Marking a significant milestone, singer-songwriter, producer, and anti-pop and emo rap enigma Aries delights fans worldwide with a deluxe reissue of his beloved debut album WELCOME HOME in celebration of its fifth anniversary. This special edition features not only his most popular songs like "RACECAR," "CAROUSEL," and "SAYONARA," but also new tracks that were previously unreleased and circulated around the fanbase as snippets, now officially further enriching the sonic lore of the original and deeply treasured body of work.
The first of the two new tracks, "90 DAYS," is steeped in nostalgia and features a unique yet familiar instrumental palette. It opens with digicore-infused key riffs and deep, looming synths brewing in the background alongside more spacey, ethereal effects. The singer croons to the void, "Where you go?" before launching into the hook where he reveals that he's been "gone for ninety days" in an attempt to clear his mind and not be led by the "Dreadful things up in my skull." Aries' harmonies blend into growing layers of dreamy beats and twinkling samples, creating an excellent juxtaposition as the artist wades through his emotions on the track's only verse.
The other new addition to WELCOME HOME, "FOREVER," closes out the deluxe version with a flurry of summery guitar riffs, sweeping synth effects, and atmospheric piano. Although the track sonically is vibrant and infused with joy, Aries urges the listener to "Take your leave and take my time," hoping that this separation isn't, as the title suggests, "forever." In the only verse, he finds himself full of hope and freed from the "choker" that was around his neck. Basking in his newly found peace, he looks forward to a future without an ETA where he can pursue his personal journey at his own pace and with people who care.
WELCOME HOME has been and will always be an exceptional album. It simultaneously overflows with emotion while speaking to the aching numbness of still-healing wounds, resulting in a release that is as cathartic today as it was when it was once first released. Coming down from the sonic high of revisiting this body of work felt like the equivalent of catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in years and realizing you have to say goodbye again, not knowing when or if you'll ever see them again, which in a sense makes you want to treasure the precious moments you have with them even more. Unless Aries plans to have listeners revisit the world of WELCOME HOME again in another five years. If that's the case, mark your calendar. It's a date.
Listen to WELCOME HOME [deluxe] below:
