REVIEW

2nd album from Los Angeles–based post-metal / doomgaze band Iress.

Building on the grunge-rooted noisy sound of their debut "Prey", this release incorporates the delicate shimmer of dream pop, the glittering textures of shoegaze, and the crushing weight of doom metal, resulting in a more dramatic sonic palette. The band navigates slowcore- and post-rock–inspired tempos to weave fragile, beautiful melodies, gradually escalating to cathartic eruptions of sorrow driven by heavy guitars—their signature approach.

At the core is vocalist Michelle Malley, lauded as the "Adele of Doom" for her commanding expressiveness. She effortlessly alternates between ethereal fragility and anguished wails, evoking the presence of both Elizabeth Fraser and Chelsea Wolfe within a single voice. Highlights include #5 "Shallow", where her heartrending long tones are simply breathtaking—best experienced in the dark, with your face buried in your knees.