REVIEW

The second album from South Korean shoegaze band FOG.

I first discovered the band through an online broadcast of DREAMWAVES, a Nagoya-based shoegaze-focused event held during the COVID-19 pandemic. True to their name, FOG creates a hazy, immersive performance that can captivate the listener instantly.

The current lineup consists of Gyungwon Sin (Vocals/Guitar), Ganghyeon Ryu (Guitar), Seungjun Oh (Bass), Bang9suk (Drums), Dongkyun Park (Synth), and Guinneissik (FX). Formed in 2018, the members came to shoegaze from diverse backgrounds including black metal, punk rock, noise rock, and jazz. Gyungwon Sin also releases solo material under the shoegaze/emo project Asian Glow.

About four years after their widely praised, Slowdive-influenced debut, FOG returns with two contrasting releases: fogesque II and fogesque III. fogesque II, the darker of the pair, features fragile, melancholic vocals echoing over blizzard-like noise that may remind some listeners of Whirr’s Sway, yet with a deeper, more penetrating sadness—like cold seeping into the heart. Without proper protection, one might feel instantly frozen. This is shoegaze at absolute zero, and fans of extreme melancholia akin to Last Leaf Down or Life on Venus will find it essential listening.

By contrast, fogesque III leans into dreamy textures rooted in math/post-rock, demonstrating a remarkable range of arrangements within the same band. For those interested, comparing both releases is highly rewarding. In South Korea, FOG frequently interacts with Japanese bands such as Asu no Joken and Suichu Spica, suggesting the possibility of a future Japan tour. The prospect of experiencing their beautiful, immersive “fog” live is eagerly anticipated.