Sungaze's Career-Defining Fourth LP

The Cincinnati six-piece blends British shoegaze grandeur with Midwest emo urgency to craft an indispensable dream-pop record about moving forward

On their fourth album, I'm No Longer Afraid of Heights, released via Candlepin Records and Softseed Music, the six-piece helmed by Ivory Snow and Ian Hilvert trades floating escapism for grounded catharsis. Mastered with crystalline punch by Will Yip, this record transforms nostalgia from a cozy sanctuary into an urgent crossroads.

To my ears, Sungaze’s true magic lies in how seamlessly they marry the swirling, atmospheric blur of Slowdive and Mazzy Star with the emotive bite of Midwest emo and Ethel Cain. Opener "Another Life" hooked me immediately, building arpeggiated acoustic guitars into a towering swell as Snow’s breathless vocal asks, "is it ever / will I ever". Meanwhile, "Rice Crispies" showcases Hilvert’s vocal counterpoint, bringing vibrant rhythmic momentum.The album’s crowning moment arrives on the title track. Sliding pedal guitar and acoustic strums slowly erode into crushing waves of distortion while Snow delivers the album’s gut-punch thesis: "there are boneyards full of people who thought they'd make it out".

One of the finest shoegaze releases of the year!

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Sungaze on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist