After such suspenseful wait, Imagine Dragons fans finally got the second album they had been awaiting since lead singer Dan Reynolds told the crowd at his last show they would be taking a rest. The highly anticipated Smoke+ Mirrors already holds place as a chart topper as number three on the iTunes charts for all genres of music and number one in alternative music despite only being released on February 17, less than a week ago.

The band teased fans with singles for various reasons that did not relate to the idea of an upcoming album until October 24, when they posted bits and pieces of their lead single “I Bet My Life” on social media, which was officially released three days later. On December 12, they sent out hints and puzzle pieces with a scavenger hunt for clues that later revealed the titles of of some of the songs on the album as well as the cover art.

With a Grammy Award, two American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards, the Las Vegas based band was a huge success with their previous album, Night Visions. Smoke+ Mirrors was a bit of surprise with its slightly new direction within its familiar rock/alternative branch of music.

Lead singer Dan Reynolds admitted in many interviews that he was in a dark place when he wrote his music, which led to their new approach at music. In comparison, Smoke+ Mirrors is more raw and has more of an edge to it than that of Night Visions. It was a noticeable change that many critics are skeptical about; however, the majority of the public disagrees there should be any disapproval.

“The album met my expectations and then surpassed them. It was different than Night Visions, but in a productive way. Some artists have the same kind of music throughout their career, unlike Imagine Dragons who use their music to grow and create its own identity,” junior Berkley Toufas said.