REVIEW

The debut album from Slide, a shoegaze band based in Philadelphia.

Anchored by slabs of heavy guitar, the record unfolds at a slow tempo, gradually pulling the listener down into darkness—an apocalyptic strain of heavy shoegaze. The guitars lash out in sandstorm-like waves of noise, violently swirling and overwhelming, while the vocals remain ethereal and sweet, creating a striking contrast that defines the band’s appeal.

For listeners who feel that much of today’s nu-gaze leans too dry, lacking a sense of floatation or intoxication, this album should prove especially satisfying. Tracks such as #3 “Only” and #4 “Stay” are particularly recommended, recalling a doomgaze-inflected version of Whirr.

That said, the album is not confined solely to slow and oppressive material. Songs like #6 “Mirror” introduce a more driving, energetic momentum, demonstrating a breadth of arrangement that belies the band’s youth. Formed in 2020, Slide display a level of compositional maturity that feels far beyond that of a typical emerging act.

The singles released since this album have also been consistently strong, suggesting that their next full-length is well worth anticipating. Fans of Holy Fawn or SOM would do well to check them out sooner rather than later.