Los Angeles doomgaze/slowcore act Iress premiere hauntingly beautiful new EP »Solace«, out now via Dune Altar
Los Angeles doomgaze/slowcore act Iress has just released their hauntingly beautiful new EP »Solace« this Friday, May 12th, 2023 via Dune Altar.
The band comments: “»Solace« is out now streaming everywhere! Since our last release in 2020, the music world has been through hell and back. The last few years have been challenging but truly made us more appreciative and passionate about music and what we love to do. Iress has grown stronger than ever and we are ready for anything. This collection of songs is dear to our hearts and reflects everything we’ve been through together. Meeting Dune Altar has been life changing, thank you for believing in us and our music. We are so grateful to you and everyone who helped us bring »Solace« to life.”
Tracklist:
01. Blush
02. Vanish
03. Ricochet
04. Soft
Courtesy of Dune Altar:
The Los Angeles-based band has just premiered their brand new EP »Solace« at Decibel Magazine and will be on all streaming services this Friday. Iress’ music is the sonic equivalent of standing on a beach as a tidal wave approaches – aware of certain devastation, yet grateful to witness something so terrifyingly beautiful, and transfixed in anticipation for whatever happens next.
Formed in Los Angeles in 2010, Iress employ dark, commanding elements of shoegaze, slowcore and metal, swelling in moments of cinematic-like crescendo. Dubbed the “Adele of Doom” by her local LA music peers, frontwoman Michelle Malley’s vocals have the power to envelop with smokey warmth, destroy with anguished belting, and arrest with unbelievable restraint. Bassist, Michael Maldonado, provides the much-needed anchor in the bewitching melodies and reverb, while drummer, Glenn Chu, pushes unrelentingly forward. Guitarist, Graham Walker, joined in 2022 instigating a new, more collaborative way of working for the band. This chemistry is undeniable on stage as the intentionality applied to live performances leaves audiences stunned to silence in moments, brought to tears in others when impaled by Malley’s emotional screams, all the while supplying a satisfying amount of crushing distortion to head bang through.
Photo by Andrew Sanyshyn
The success of Iress’ newfound anatomy can also be heard in the exceptionally composed, staggering wave of doomgazey sound on the upcoming »Solace« EP, which tells the story of the brutal reality of change: inevitable, painful and beautiful. Available May 12, 2023 from eclectic Los Angeles label Dune Altar.
Order »Solace« EP on limited edition cassette: links.dunealtar.com/iress/solace
Engineered & Mixed by AIex Estrada at The Pale Moon Ranch.
Mastered by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden.
All Artwork by Tara Jane at Steel Bones Studio.
Iress are:
Michelle Malley – Vocals & Guitar
Graham Walker – Guitar & Synths
Michael Maldonado – Bass, Guitar
Alejandra Robles Lunda – Drums
“[O]ne of the most mesmerizing vocalists in heavy music, Michelle Malley. Her raw, yearning howl is prone to foundational cracks that only underscore its authenticity.” – Andrew Bonazelli, Decibel Magazine
“Every single note is as heartfelt as it is carefully constructing and adding depth to Iress’ world of dreary beauty.” – Jesper L., Sputnik Music
“A fully-formed package that follows in the footsteps of acts like Windhand while putting their own dreamy and fluid spin on it.” – Nick Cusworth, Heavy Blog Is Heavy
“There’s an ethereal quality to Iress’ music that makes me feel like I’m floating in an energetic primordial ocean, being called to my next journey by a voice made of pure light.” – Meghan MacRae, Cvlt Nation
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well