Orbs. It’s a four-letter word—certainly not a vulgarity, but every bit as evocative. It calls to mind a shining ball filled with light (or darkness, for that matter), an enclosure that houses something mysterious and perhaps forbidden, or maybe even a progressive electronic outfit. It’s a loaded, nebulous word that somehow manages to perfectly describe its contents.
At least, this is the case with this particular Orbs, an EP released by the Tokyo-based band 2beef in July 2025. Throughout the EP’s four songs, the band takes us on a journey of the most pleasant sonic assault one could possibly imagine. This release is made for those devout fans of layered, guitar-centered music with a deceptively soft center. Each track washes into the next in a flurry of heavily distorted guitars and crashing drums. Wispy, dreamlike vocals sit at the heart of the mix rather than soaring above, using the voice as another layer of sound rather than a lead instrument. It’s a style that’s tried and true, especially in the realm of shoegaze, but the intensity with which 2beef employs their maelstrom of sound is more akin to a certain strain of atmospheric black metal. The effect is substantial but never intrusive, inviting the listener into their world of noise rather than attempting to overwhelm or intimidate.
2beef are clearly students of the genre, even down to the cover art—a modern, clinical style reminiscent of classic Spiritualized sleeves. However, they do not appear to find this choice of homage underhanded or restrictive. This modest EP showcases a band eager to put their own stamp on the idiom while yielding respect to the work of their forebears. With Orbs, they have shown their willingness to move forward with a new way of looking at a familiar form.
Written by Jacob Simons
