Glare - Sunset Funeral (review)
Grief and scenic beauty hit harder than ever on Glare’s long-awaited debut.
Score: 9/10
Genre: Shoegaze, Indie, Alternative Rock
Glare’s mood-first approach that doesn’t sacrifice groove or melody has made them one of the most successful of the shoegaze revival. Heart-ripping grief and scenic beauty has always been at the band’s core during their years of small sporadic releases. Now, the imagery of vivid colors, the vastness of the sky, and the cold infinity of death materialize like never before on their debut LP.
Equal parts power and grace, the sound hits hard while having a blissful lull. There are strong lead guitars that soar over the mix, which is crisp and sublimely intricate. The meat of the songs set the stage for even meatier instrumental finales — the grungy angst of “Nü Burn”, the quiet-loud tension of “Mourning Haze”, the classic rock balladry of “Saudade”.
It’s not only about the fluid guitarwork. The rhythm section is allowed to shine throughout, especially in the propulsive “Guts” and the adventurously arranged “Chlorinehouse”. The ghostly vocals add to the moods while being indiscernible enough to let the potent vibes speak for themselves. More importantly, the entire band feels in step and creates a concrete sound that is larger than the sum of its parts.
Glare shows us that when you put the emotion and inspiration at the center, everything else will follow. “See you in the end. Moments of passing joy play inside my head", they sing in the album’s sendoff. It’s that bittersweetness that Glare has perfected over the years, and makes their debut feel so real and surreal.
Score: 9/10