The new self titled EP from Philadelphia hyper-rockers ‘honeygaze’ is a tightly fit puzzle of shoegaze revivalism and aughts-era pop nostalgia. Addictively fun to listen to, this EP might just be what you need to gaze through your winter doldrums.
The moniker of hyper-rock has been defined by a combination of the heavily produced and manically enthralling pop sensibilities of hyperpop with the guitar tones of modern shoegaze. [H]oneygaze fits this definition rather well, tracking pummeling heavy pop over songs that are all under three minutes.
Throughout the five song EP, vocalist Kiersten Ladzinski and guitarist/producer Hans Hoffman weave saturated distortion with autotuned vocals to make a sonic tapestry that sounds completely modern. Even so, listeners all the way from gen Y to gen Z will find something familiar tugging at the back of their mind as they traverse the EP. The pop vocals and song structures that we all grew up hearing on the radio are transformed through a shoegaze lens to draw out their avant-garde edges – leading to a 13 minute EP that runs the gamut between hyperpop, 2000s emo, and shoegaze. Tracks like “Worst Way” and “Avril Lavigne” are hyperpop, following tipsy melodies and classic vocal hooks. On the other hand, “Heartthrob” and “High Dose” follow more in the footsteps of post-punk.
Keep your eye on this Philadelphia outfit, I have a feeling there will be a new wave of hyper-rock taking over the east coast soon, and honeygaze is poised to be a central part of it.
Written by Pleasure Tapes
