REVIEW

Texas-based shoegaze band trauma ray delivers their debut album on the esteemed Dais Records.

The current lineup consists of Uriel Avila (Gt/Vo), Jonathan Perez (Gt), Darren Baun (Ba), Coleman Pruitt (Gt), and Nick Bobotas (Dr). In an Audiotree live interview, the band explained their unusual formation: Uriel, who ran a karaoke bar, met Darren and began jamming to Britney Spears songs just for fun. Later, Jonathan visited the bar while Uriel was playing Slowdive and Cocteau Twins, which led to an instant connection and subsequent jam sessions. Nick eventually joined through Facebook—a quirky origin story, indeed.

Thematically centered on “death” as a shape-shifting presence, the album is titled Chameleon and draws influences from My Bloody Valentine, Duster, Hum, and Slowdive. It merges lush clean vocals with thorny, noisy guitars. The opener #1 “Ember” immediately unleashes their signature heavy, undulating riffs. #2 “Torn” starts with an exhilarating drive before crashing into a headbanger-worthy heavy section. #6 “Elegy” contrasts doomy waves of riffs with aurora-like glimpses of light, while #7 “Drift” provides a refreshing ambient breakbeat interlude before the noise returns in #8 “Breath.” The latter half peaks with #9 “Spectre,” a quasi-requiem with soaring vocals over dense guitars. The album closes with a lullaby-like track, leaving a deep sense of resolution.

While Nu-Gaze trends can feel repetitive, trauma ray’s wide-ranging arrangements and distinct palette set them apart. Their upcoming tour with Deafheaven promises to raise their profile further—let’s hope a Japan visit is on the cards as well.

Their lush, decadent sound and green-tinged visuals invite comparisons to Type O Negative, though no direct influence is evident. Still, Uriel’s mention of Blood Rave’s Determinate Bias as one of his favorite albums of 2024 hints at a clear gothic sensibility—something I’d love to ask him about if they ever tour Japan.