LA band Iress recently dropped their third full-length, Sleep Now, In Reverse<. Some refer to them as dream metal, but honestly, I feel it’s much closer to shoegaze. Singer Michelle Malley has a marvellous set of pipes, angelic at one moment and raw with emotion at the next. The music is ethereal, but never is it light-hearted. The music is a dense wall of sound, populated by bassist Michael Maldonado, drummer Glenn Chu, and guitarist Graham Walker. The band’s chemistry is evident in a live setting, with Malley’s crystalline pipes overlaying it all.
The uneasy single ‘Falling’ opens this song suite, and it’s an apt title that for me, mirrors what is happening globally as the world falls down around us. It has an exquisite vocal and a strong melody. ‘Ever Under’ will hold you captive, much like a butterfly pinned to a board. It comes closer to a hallmark shoegaze song before melting effortlessly into ‘Mercy’. This has darker textures with a harder edge, but it’s always laced with a beautiful melody and Malley’s soaring vocals. ‘Leviathan (The Fog)’ is aptly named, for its feel is like fog drifting in and out of your mind. Malley’s voice is a velvety balm to the senses and is framed perfectly by the arrangement on this song. ‘Lovely (Forget Me Not)’ is straightforward indie rock, perfectly executed and played. It is a siren song that could easily lead you down a dark path.
‘The Remains’ is splendid doomgaze, ornate yet dark, brimming with emotion and angst. The dichotomy of light vs dark is never more evident than it is on this tune. ‘In Reverse’ showcases Malley’s voice, projecting it way up front in the mix. I love the way her voice cracks and how the music shimmers around her. ‘Sanctuary’ is music for a cloudy day, so kick back and savour this extended jam. The final ‘Deep’ is short and minimalist, and the somewhat ominous feeling I get is akin to hearing The Sound in their heyday, just before a wall of feedback knifes in, only to retreat like the tide going out. An unsettling end to this beautifully rendered album, possibly the band’s best work. Highly recommended for all dream pop, shoegaze, and slowcore fans.