REVIEW: Mimi Barks - Dreamstate of Fear
- Zuzanna Pazola
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
With Dreamstate of Fear, MIMI BARKS delivers what feels like her most self-assured release to date. While the Berlin artist has spent years carving out her own lane with her self-described doom trap sound, this seven-track EP places far greater emphasis on the emotional and psychological ideas behind the music than simply pushing genre boundaries for the sake of it.
At its core, Dreamstate of Fear explores heaven and hell as psychological states, examining cycles of fear, self-destruction, and personal transformation rather than presenting them as external forces. That concept runs throughout the EP, making it feel less like a collection of individual songs and more like a complete body of work. The inclusion of shorter interlude pieces such as Polarity and States of Consciousness reinforces that sense of continuity, encouraging the record to be experienced from beginning to end rather than dipping in and out of it.
Trying to pin the EP to a single genre is pointless, as metal, industrial, trap, and electronic influences constantly overlap without any one style dominating. Instead of chasing acceptance from any particular scene, MIMI BARKS commits entirely to her own vision, creating something that feels distinctive even within an increasingly experimental heavy music landscape.
That confidence is reflected in MIMI BARKS’ vocal performance. Her harsh, commanding delivery is immediately recognisable, but it’s the contrast between those heavier moments and the more melodic or spoken-word passages that gives the EP much of its emotional depth. Tracks such as Dreamstate of Hell showcase that balance particularly well, shifting effortlessly between aggression and vulnerability without sacrificing either.
Power durch Verrat is perhaps the EP’s most striking moment. Performed entirely in German, it feels like a confident embrace of MIMI BARKS’ identity rather than a concession to accessibility. Surrounded by English-language tracks, its inclusion strengthens the record’s authenticity, serving as a reminder that staying true to your roots can often be more powerful than broadening your appeal.
If there is one title that encapsulates the record as a whole, it’s Butterfly in Chains. Throughout the EP, moments of melody and vulnerability are wrapped in abrasive production and industrial chaos. Beauty is present, but it never arrives without resistance. That tension defines Dreamstate of Fear, resulting in a release that is uncompromising, emotionally raw, and impossible to mistake for anyone else.
There is something about this EP that is deliberately confrontational. Metal purists are unlikely to embrace its collision of styles, while even listeners with more open-minded tastes may need several listens before everything clicks into place. However, whether it wins over every listener or not is almost beside the point; MIMI BARKS has created exactly the record she set out to make, and that conviction is what leaves the strongest impression. Nothing here feels designed to satisfy expectations or follow trends, and the music is stronger for it.
Love it or loathe it, Dreamstate of Fear is impossible to ignore. Heavy music has never been more willing to blur genre lines, but few artists do so with the same boldness and individuality as MIMI BARKS.
Score: 8/10
Dreamstate of Fear will be released on 24th July via DEATHKISS Records.
Words: Zuzanna Pazola
Photos: Mimi Barks
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