Iress’ album Flaw was one of the first albums reviewed on the Ways of Exile so I was very excited that four years later I was finally getting to hear their follow up and even more delighted that I get to feature it here.
On first listen, Sleep Now is an album that sits closer to the shoegaze side of the Gaze spectrum. That is until you turn it up and it becomes something much more forceful. The doom becomes more apparent. I feel like I say this nearly every month, but every month it catches me by surprise. Play your music loudly people! Escape your headphones, it changes everything.
The opener, Falling is a sweet song that introduces the album well. A mix of gentle vocals with the heavy guitar just lurking, waiting to be unleashed. The Remains has a great clean / filthy dynamic, while In Reverse has a satisfying heaviness that shows off Iress’ doomgaze edge. There’s some chunky riffs under all that sweetness, that’s best demonstrated by Knell Mera, the heaviest song on the album.
The band’s not so secret weapon is Michelle Malley’s vocals. Her sweet voice belays the incredible power it has when she lets it fly. It’s really impressive and having seen them at Arctangent festival, I’m happy to say it’s jaw dropping live.
This is another great addition to the Iress discography, a beautiful album but one with teeth, and I really, really hope they make it back to the UK sometime soon.