Shoegaze is a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume. It emerged in Ireland and the United Kingdom in the late 1980s among neo-psychedelic groups who usually stood motionless during live performances in a detached, non-confrontational state. The name comes from the heavy use of effects pedals, as the performers were often looking down at their pedals during concerts.
Neurosis is an American post-metal band from Oakland, California. It was formed in 1985 by guitarist Scott Kelly, bassist Dave Edwardson, and drummer Jason Roeder, initially as a crust punk band. Chad Salter joined as a second guitarist and appeared on the band's 1987 debut Pain of Mind and then Steve Von Till replaced him in 1989. The following year, the lineup further expanded to include a keyboardist and a visual artist. Beginning with their third album Souls at Zero (1992), Neurosis transformed their hardcore sound by incorporating diverse influences including doom metal and industrial music, becoming a major force in the emergence of the post-metal and sludge metal genres.
Swirlies is an American indie rock band formed in Boston in 1990. Since their first records in the early 1990s, the band has released studio and home recordings that blend shoegaze and twee pop with electronica and lo-fi music.
Ethereal wave, also called ethereal darkwave, ethereal goth or simply ethereal, is a subgenre of dark wave music that is variously described as "gothic", "romantic", and "otherworldly". Developed in the early 1980s in the UK as an outgrowth of gothic rock, ethereal wave was mainly represented by 4AD bands such as Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, and early guitar-driven Dead Can Dance.
Deafheaven is an American post-metal band formed in 2010. Originally based in San Francisco, the group began as a two-piece with singer George Clarke and guitarist Kerry McCoy, who recorded and self-released a demo album together. Following its release, Deafheaven recruited three new members and began to tour. Before the end of 2010, the band signed to Deathwish Inc. and later released their debut album Roads to Judah, in April 2011. They popularized a unique style blending black metal, shoegaze, and post-rock, among other influences, later called "blackgaze" by reviewers.
Whirr is an American shoegaze band, formed in 2010 in Modesto, California. The band currently consists of vocalist/guitarist Loren Rivera, guitarists Nick Bassett and Joseph Bautista, bassist Eddie Salgado, and drummer Devin Nunes. The band underwent numerous lineups changes early in their history, including a rotating lineup of female vocalists and keyboardists and the departure of founding drummer Sergio Miranda, before settling on their current lineup in 2013.
Nothing is an American shoegaze band formed in 2010 by vocalist-guitarist Domenic "Nicky" Palermo. The band has had a revolving lineup throughout its career, with Palermo being the sole constant member following the departure of longtime guitarist-vocalist Brandon Setta in 2019. The two guitarists shared songwriting duties during Setta's tenure in Nothing.
Guilty of Everything is the debut studio album by the American shoegaze band Nothing, released on March 4, 2014 by Relapse Records. It is the only album to feature Chris Betts on bass and the first to feature Kyle Kimball on drums.
Full of Hell is an American grindcore band from Ocean City, Maryland, and Central Pennsylvania, that formed in 2009. They are currently signed to Relapse Records and have released six studio albums – Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home (2011), Rudiments of Mutilation (2013), Trumpeting Ecstasy (2017), Weeping Choir (2019), Garden of Burning Apparitions (2021), and Coagulated Bliss (2024) – as well as several EPs and splits. In addition to studio albums, they've released five collaboration albums – Full of Hell & Merzbow (2014) with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache (2016) and Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light (2017) with sludge metal band the Body, Suffocating Hallucination with doom metal band Primitive Man in March 2023 and When No Birds Sang with shoegaze band Nothing in December 2023.
Sway is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Whirr, released on September 23, 2014 by Graveface Records. The album marked the departure of previous lead singer Alexandra Morte, as well as the first release with Devin Nunes who replaced Sergio Miranda on drums. It was produced by Jack Shirley.
Tired of Tomorrow is the second studio album by American shoegaze band Nothing. It was released on May 13, 2016, by Relapse Records. It is the first Nothing album to feature bassist Nick Bassett, the guitarist of Whirr.
They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons is the second full-length album by Boston indie rock band Swirlies. Released in April 1996, three years after their previous LP, this was the group's first major recording effort after a change in half of Swirlies' lineup. Working again with engineer and co-producer Rich Costey, the band developed a wider scope of sound than the shoegaze and lo-fi pop which characterized their earlier releases, as Salons makes heavier use of synthesizers, dance beats, and other electronic sounds, drawing comparisons to groups like Stereolab and their Krautrock forebears. In 2014 music writer Andrew Earles placed the record on his list of 500 essential American underground rock albums.
Nick Bassett is an American musician, producer and composer from Modesto, California. He was the bassist of shoegaze band Nothing and is the lead guitarist of shoegaze band Whirr. He also played guitar in the original lineup of blackgaze band Deafheaven.
Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music is the third full-length album by Boston indie rock band Swirlies. The album comprises remixes of songs from their previous album, They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons, along with soundbites and forays into experimental music. Taang! Records released Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music in 1998 on CD, and also re-packaged most of it as the first disc of a double LP. with the bulk of Salons as the second.
Kristina Esfandiari is an American singer-songwriter and producer who writes music and performs under the monikers Dalmatian, Miserable, and NGHTCRWLR, and with the bands King Woman and Sugar High.
Heavy Eyes is the debut studio album from Canadian indie rock band Basement Revolver. It was released in the UK by fear of missing out records and in Canada by Sonic Unyon. The album combines hardcore indie rock with dream pop influences, and has been described by vocalist and songwriter Chrisy Hurn as a "bit of a deep dive into myself".
The Great Dismal is the fourth studio album by American shoegaze band Nothing. It is the only album to feature bassist Aaron Heard, the first to feature Doyle Martin on guitar and backing vocals, and the last with longtime drummer Kyle Kimball. The album was released on October 30, 2020, by Relapse Records.
Path is the second studio album by American musician Kraus, released on March 9, 2018, through Terrible Records. Preceded by singles "Reach" and "Bum", Path follows Kraus's debut End Tomorrow on the same label. A shoegaze album, reviewers noted the album's influence from 1990s alternative rock, evoking a vibe akin to My Bloody Valentine. Path was described as "intriguing" by Pitchfork and "gorgeous" by Revolver. In 2019, Far Out Magazine considered it the 18th best shoegaze album of all time.
John Agnello is an American music producer and recording engineer who has worked with a multitude of recording artists. He has produced or co-produced dozens of albums. He also founded his own record label in the 2000s.
