REVIEW

The fourth album from Los Angeles psychedelic doom rock band Blackwater Holylight.

Formed in Portland and now based in Los Angeles, Blackwater Holylight have developed a unique sound that crosses the boundaries between doom, shoegaze, and psychedelic rock. The band is centered around Sunny Faris (Vocals, Bass, Guitar), Mikayla Mayhew (Bass, Guitar), Eliese Dorsay (Drums), Sarah McKenna (Synthesizer), and Camille Getz (Violin).

Following the shoegaze-leaning direction explored on their previous album 『If You Only Knew』, the band pushes their guitars further into distortion, embracing the crushing weight of doom metal and sludge. At the same time, ethereal vocals and layered synthesizers add depth and dimension to their massive sound.

#4 “Heavy, Why?” serves as a defining example of this approach. Opening with an oppressive, bleak heaviness, the track gradually transforms as the drums shift into a more driving rhythm and spacious synthesizers emerge, building toward a sound filled with emotional intensity.

#7 “Void To Be” and #8 “Fade” highlight the band's shoegaze influences, blending Slowdive-inspired atmospheres with the immense weight of doom metal in a seamless way. These tracks perfectly capture Blackwater Holylight’s signature balance between fragility and power.

The closing track #10 “Poppyfields” carries a ritualistic atmosphere and a sense of hypnotic immersion. After a fast-paced midsection, the song returns to its heavier foundation, with the elegant violin arrangement leaving a lasting impression.

『Not Here Not Gone』 is an album that moves freely across the boundaries of doom metal and shoegaze, achieving a remarkable balance between crushing heaviness and ethereal beauty. Rather than treating heaviness as mere darkness, Blackwater Holylight transform it into emotional weight through carefully crafted layers of sound. Having further deepened and expanded the musical identity they have cultivated over the years, Not Here Not Gone represents a new creative peak for the band.