REVIEW

Third album from Belgium-based shoegaze band Newmoon.

Formed around former members of the hardcore band Midnight Souls, they draw inspiration from My Bloody Valentine, The Cure, Slowdive, Yuck, Nirvana, Nothing, and Whirr. Their debut album Space fused hardcore-derived heaviness with melancholic melodies, immediately garnering attention.

Approximately four years after their second release, this third album balances the heaviness of the first with the pop sensibility of the second, all coated in Slowdive-esque ethereal beauty. The melodies have grown even more melancholic, radiating a chill that approaches tracks like Life on Venus and Last Leaf Down. Every track is a standout, but #3 “Fading Phase” and #5 “Through the Glass” are my current favorites—especially the heartbreaking chorus of the latter, arguably one of the strongest of the year.

A landmark release that epitomizes melancholic shoegaze in the current era. Fans eagerly await a Japan tour, alongside fellow countrymen Slow Crush.