Album by Summer of Hate

This one feels like it sits somewhere in that shoegaze / alt-rock space, but it doesn’t stay there for long.

It’s built on droning guitars and dreamy vocals, but there are all these other textures layered in that keep it from feeling one-dimensional. At times it even feels like there are influences from outside that lane — I swear I hear something like a sitar or other tones that give parts of it a slightly different edge. I’m not totally sure what’s being pulled in, but it works.

What stood out most is how well all those different sounds come together. It never feels scattered. Everything blends into this dense, immersive wall of sound that still finds ways to shift underneath itself.

The title track “Blood and Honey” is the best example of that. It’s heavy and almost sludgy at times, but the vocals float over it in a way that keeps it from feeling weighed down. It’s long, but it never drags.“El Saif” takes things in a different direction, almost leaning toward something more rhythmic and danceable, while still keeping that darker tone underneath. “Mayura” feels more sinister, with some interesting shifts in rhythm that give it a different kind of momentum.

“Alem” and “Joy” lighten things up a bit, leaning into a more jangly, dream pop space with a feel that reminds me of late 80s / early 90s indie rock.

“The Gospel (According to Summer’s of Hate)” closes things out with a long, drawn-out outro that’s easily one of the best moments on the album. It just keeps going in a way that makes you not want it to end.

Overall, this is a really immersive listen. It pulls from a lot of different directions, but everything fits together in a way that feels natural.

Verdict: Good

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