WHERE MY SAD PEOPLE AT? Feel free to jump on the first plane to Texas, where the new faces of music which is as saturated as it is emotionally charged are born, at least on the American scene.
Let’s mention Narrow Head, Grivo, Bleed, and Trauma Ray as already among the essentials of the heavy Shoegaze movement. Before them, Ringo Deathstarr and even This Will Destroy You provided the service with honors, tickling dream pop on one hand and founding modern Post-Rock on the other. And now a new challenger enters the spotlight to prove themselves as worthy, if not more so, of their elders: Glare. An entrance through the front door, since they have the support of Deathwish Inc., a label that I think needs no introduction. It should be noted, however, that Shoegaze is clearly not the majority there. Glare is, to my knowledge, only the second representative of the genre on the roster, along with the magnificent Greet Death (who are also about to release new material). Which is enough to draw attention to Sunset Funeral.
The least we can say is that the quartet from the Lower Rio Grande Valley took advantage of all the time they needed before releasing their first proper full-length album. Eight years separate the new record from the band’s debut, and four from its predecessor. The Heavenly EP provided a promising calling card, already boasting solid compositions and an identifiable style. Where some of their peers lean toward pure Hardcore vibes, Glare place much more emphasis on dreamy atmospheres and melodies that have the gift of enveloping you in a cloud of cotton wool. An statement immediately evident statement on the opening track, “Mourning Haze”: Comfort, but above all, power, prodigiously emphasized by the production. This paradox creates the desire to jump around while simultaneously being lulled by the ethereal vocals of guitarists Cesar “Izzy” Isaguirre and Toni Ordaz, which seamlessly intertwine. The latter are unparalleled in their ability to counterbalance and contrast the clarity of their chords and layers with truly heavy riffs, reminiscent of Deftones and Nothing. And when it comes to the heaviness inherited from such references, it’s hard not to succumb to the ultra-punchy “Nü Burn”. Probably the track with the feistiest feel of the set, though still imbued with an elusive beauty. Another noteworthy track is “Guts”, marked by its precise and sustained rhythm, and the same mastery of spectral melodies discernible in the back.
These few dynamic bursts aside, Sunset Funeral gives pride of place to an atmospheric register, a vector of tranquility in most cases. We’re faced with a blend of Post-Rock and Doomgaze, without falling too much into either. But it is clear that Glare does not put aside their insatiable desire for epicness. The proof is made with a sublime “Saudade” and its surprise explosion, vehicle of a contagious feeling of elevation. This is what “Kiss The Sun” perfectly prepared for just before, by dropping a little Cocteau Twins-style guitar gimmick as a bonus. That’s exactly the kind of songs that get inside you, and you won’t be able to precisely put words to them, so strong are the sensations, so much do the emotions collide. But what comes back once again to mind is this power, manifest and undeniable. A power that manages not to destroy all the sumptuousness contained in Glare’s songs. And this is certainly the case on this handful of tracks. That being said, the album contains its share of down-tempo pieces that are quite soothing. This is suggested by the sequence of “2 Soon To Tell” and then “Chlorinehouse”, which totally captivate. Closer to the final stretch, “Sungrave” drives the point home, offering a cathartic crescendo for its grand finale. Before the descent becomes gentler thanks to “Different Hue”: A magnificent ballad with acoustic sounds, which can only be visualized through a landscape of a sunset by the lake. The “goodbyes” are said, the next rendez-vous is made.
Sunset Funeral has exactly EVERYTHING to remind us of everything we love, everything we cherish about current Shoegaze. A modern and refreshing vision that Glare understood perfectly, showing all the potential to perfect it in the future. And personally, it’s without a doubt my favorite discovery of 2025, so far!
