Ice on the Dune

Released in 2013, Ice on the Dune is the second studio album by the Australian duo Empire of the Sun. Following the massive global success of Walking on a Dream, the duo doubled down on their visual and sonic identity as 'Emperors' of a post-apocalyptic, psychedelic future. The album was preceded by a cinematic trailer that established a complex backstory involving a 'King of Shadows' and stolen jewels, a narrative that informs the grand, orchestral scale of the music. Musically, it represents a shift toward more aggressive, EDM-influenced structures while maintaining the melodic sensibilities of 80s synth-pop. Recorded across various global locations, the production is notably more 'maximalist' than its predecessor, featuring contributions from members of Pnau and a more prominent use of digital synthesis. It solidified the band's status as a premier festival act, with tracks like 'Alive' becoming ubiquitous summer anthems. Critically, it was viewed as a polished, if somewhat less experimental, evolution of their established sound.