Shoegazy Alternative

I am old enough to have live through the Nu Metal era and see how it impacted on the global Music scene. As a young lad, one would despise many of the bands labelled as Nu Metal, and praise those that rebelled against it, putting out music that was even more brutal than what they did before, as a way to show a sort of “fear us, weaklings” attitude. Looking back at it, it made no sense, and it only showed a caveman behaviour one tends to associate with Heavy Metal. Today, I ignore what does not have an impact on me. I like it, I listen to it, I do not like it, I do not listen to it. Is it not simple? Indeed, it is…

I did enjoy some of the bands that were “thrown” into the pit of emotionless and unclassy music, because they were – and still are – actually great musicians, that really never lived the scene, never rode that wave, per se. A band like the Deftones, for instance, one can consider them as being part of such scene to a certain extent, yes; however, and if you look at it in hindsight and in retrospect, you can see that they were never really “that scene”. Their music was always ahead of the pack, in a different wavelength, miles apart. It was the skateboard, the bloody skateboard.

However, the Deftones started a revolution! They did not invent anything, ok? They just worked really well with what they had access to, and that meant picking bits and pieces of genres that seem to be miles apart. You have The Cure mixed up with Faith no More and the Bad Brains, add UK’s most hated lead singer, and his lads, The Smith, and thrown in the Smashing Pumpkins, and you get this massive fusion of everything. Now add atmospheric Shoegaze Rock, and you get the Deftones. Their first 2 records might not show all these elements but jump into “White Pony” and let me know.

Yet, we are not here for the Deftones. The other day I found a cool YouTube Channel, Melómano Adicto YouTube Channel. The channel revolves around Atmospheric/Alternative Metal/Shoegaze/Nu Metal, etc. Yes, the hellish label returns. It seems to be making a comeback, from what I have read. Not excited nor furious. Let it be, I say. Nonetheless, I did find a few bands/records I really enjoyed. Jumping into it:

Velour and their “Softcore”, released in 2023, and a very cool listening experience. Velour are a quintet from Arizona, USA, and they play a Melodic Alternative Rock, that at times reminds me of Basement, but that also has bits and tads of Deftones, the more atmospheric and slower side of the Sacramento juggernauts. Overall, this is really cool, although I feel it would hit hard at the gym, d’you know what I mean?! Still a very manly record but not made for bodybuilding!

Jokes aside, this is a really pleasant, and I mean really, really. It has an early 00ies vibe, which is great, and it also has the alternative twist. Overall, of the overall, this is good. You should check it. Some might call it Emo, but I remind you that the foundations of what we call Emo Core, or Emotional Hardcore, where not what the media fed you for many years. With that… just go.

Now, still in the US of A, and still within the boundaries of a more alternative and atmospheric Hardcore, allow me to introduce Goodmourning, a duo from Richmond, Virginia, that clearly has a thing for Shoegaze, and Deftones, or just Shoegaze. Whatever, man! This is just what I have been spinning this whole week along with Velour. The 2 records fit really well together, one being a bit heavier than the other, it gives this dynamic to the listening session, never allowing you to go dull and dead.

Shoegaze and Deftones in the same sentence, nowadays, is one of the most common things I the world of alternative music. Heavy riffs, slow riffs, melodic riffs, I have no idea if this is the definition of Shoegaze, but this is the way I look at it. And eerie atmospheres, of course. “a style of rock music characterized by a sound in which the distinctions between separate instruments and vocals are blurred”, this id the definition, and it makes sense.

Goodmourning are clearly Shoegaze, then! The way the voice sort of provides a basis of the instruments to shine, makes it very nice and beautiful. I have listened to some Shoegaze back in the day and got bored. What will prevent me from not getting bored of this one as well? I will, eventually, like we all get bored of almost everything. The thing is, I now know I can go back to some Shoegaze projects and appreciate it differently. It resembles a lot a growing up thing! Back to Goodmourning, allow me to ad that these lads have more in their music than just Shoegaze and that. I can hear some more violent parts. Well, not violent as in pool of blood and entrails splattered on the walls, but more abrasive moments. Do they fit? Oh, they fit!

In conclusion, I am really happy to have found these 2. Their music has the ability to put me in a good place, and I give 0 fucks if it heavy or melodic music, I just want me peace and quiet. Period. Go check these out and stop being an elitist wanker.