EP REVIEW: male//gaze – TOO LATE NOW

‘…a sound that feels like it is right on the verge of establishing a whole new realm of music to explore…’

Based out of the Pacific Northwest, male//gaze are a five-piece outfit that ascribed themselves the intriguing moniker of being purveyors of “extreme pop”. Born as a post-breakup creative outlet for vocalist Ashley and guitarist/vocalist Hank Atherton back in 2022, the band have released multiple projects of varying lengths, including their debut LP ‘EQUALLY UNCOMFORTABLE’, and have found themselves to be important members of their regional grassroots scene.

The band’s latest release, ‘TOO LATE NOW’, is described as exploration of memory, loss, and self-acceptance, as the band take their traumas and dark facets and mould them into something that they can shoulder the burden of. Elements of pop, shoegaze, and hardcore collide to produce a cathartic sonic experience that is not simply exciting to listen to, but feels like a band stepping forth into uncharted territory.

‘GET WELL’ is an absolutely seismic track, taking the maximalist, adrenaline-rush sensibilities of hyperpop, and intertwining them with soul-stirring shoegaze ideas. Densely packed layers of synths pulse away atop of thunderous, hypnotic percussion, whilst soaring vocal melodies are complimented by distant screams that fight to be heard above the chaos. ‘SLAYMAXXXING’ alternates between furious hardcore violence and swaggering garage rock grit in a playful punk dance, whilst ‘SOFT & QUIET’ commences as a controlled, brooding, bass-heavy electronic number, before unravelling into a dizzying cascade of experimental pop catharsis.

‘SPEAK (for me)’ is where all of the elements that make this EP shine coalesce into something utterly transformative. A sprawling, ethereal number that is as mournful as it is defiant, the tracks incorporates luscious guitar work, compelling yet gentle bass melodies, and a truly magnificent vocal performance that perfectly captures the essence of deciding your own legacy. The track’s ultimate climax is shiver-inducing to the extreme, as it races past the listener in a blur of sonic aurora. It is a magnificent feat of musicianship that remains commanding and compelling whilst being intensely vulnerable; a song of the year contender for certain.

‘TOO LATE NOW’ is more than simply a great EP. This release feels important, with a sound that feels like it is right on the verge of establishing a whole new realm of music to explore; this is as Charli XCX as it Turnstile, as KATSEYE as it is My Bloody Valentine, as Fever Ray as it is Moodring. This is music unshackled from expectations, built with the purest intention of making you feel something. And perhaps the most exciting aspect is the fact that male//gaze still sound like a band with a genuine masterpiece in them, waiting to blossom.

This is a must-listen experience from an outfit doing something very, very important.

RATING: 90/100 – Excellent

For Fans Of: My Bloody Valentine, Worn Out, Lure In, Topiary Creatures, Paledusk, Turnstile,

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