Dune Altar (DA-042)

The sonic equivalent of standing on a beach as a tidal wave approaches, listening to IRESS is to be aware of certain devastation, yet grateful to witness something so terrifyingly beautiful, and transfixed in anticipation for whatever happens next.

Formed in Los Angeles in 2010, IRESS employ dark, commanding elements of shoegaze, slowcore and metal, swelling in moments of cinematic-like crescendo. Dubbed the “Adele of Doom” by her local LA music peers, frontwoman Michelle Malley’s vocals have the power to envelop with smokey warmth, destroy with anguished belting, and arrest with unbelievable restraint. Bassist, Michael Maldonado, provides the much-needed anchor in the bewitching melodies and reverb, while drummer, Glenn Chu, pushes unrelentingly forward. Guitarist, Graham Walker, joined in 2022 instigating a new, more collaborative way of working for the band. This chemistry is undeniable on stage as the intentionality applied to live performances leaves audiences stunned to silence in moments, brought to tears in others when impaled by Malley’s emotional screams, all the while supplying a satisfying amount of crushing distortion to head bang through.

The success of Iress’ newfound anatomy can also be heard in the exceptionally composed, staggering wave of doomgazey sound on the upcoming Solace EP, which tells the story of the brutal reality of change: inevitable, painful and beautiful.

Solace

Blush

IRESS - Blush

Dune Altar (DA-015)

Los Angeles based band BRASS BOX is creating a fresh brand of noisy shoegaze that is equally atmospheric as it is melodic-- a sound that immediately casts listeners into a sea of velvet and thorns annexed by an indomitable wave of swirling guitars and shimmering harmonies.  The band is the collective effort of singer and bassist Ammo Bankoff (Tête, Black Flamingo), guitarist Neil Popkin (War Tapes, Rituals), guitarist Matt Bennett (War Tapes), and drummer Pablo Amador (Rituals, Magic Wands). 

Having previously met sharing bills at underground shows, the band was formed after Bankoff, armed with a self produced demo, ran into Popkin at a bar. The duo eventually brought on Bennett and Amador which lead to the initial formation of the bands current lineup. 

Their first EP ‘Ivory Skies’ from 2016 was met with critical success from notable critics, with Buzzbands.LA calling its compositions “a proper sound bath in both melody and noise,” and DoLA describing their uniquely goth pop as “drenched in macabre imagery and poetic goth themes.”

With the release of their debut LP ‘THE CATHEDRAL’ the band solidify their spot as one of LA’s finest purveyors of a genre they define as dream goth.  The record was released on April 6th, 2018 through Dune Altar.

BRASS BOX - Waves

DUNE ALTAR

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