Iress – The Remains

Doom, shoegaze, slowcore and more besides collide in Iress‘ music. New single ‘The Remains’ is another slab of melancholy that’ll tug at your heartstrings through Michelle Malley’s haunting vocals while heaving riffs crush beneath their weight, particularly in its closing moments that venture even into the tectonic heft of post-metal riffs. Where previous single ‘Falling’ showcased Iress‘ command of fragility amidst downtempo, swirling guitar, ‘The Remains’ hits with all the inevitability of the cold march of time that beats down all in its path. There’s still a beauty to be found in Malley’s stunning vocals, one that distracts from the crushing weight til there’s no time left. – Will Marshall

Iress - The Remains

If plastic sword wielding power metal is just a little too cheerful for you, perhaps you’d be better served by the cool blanket of melancholia offered by Los Angeles’ Iress on new single The Remains. Taken from their new album Sleep Now, In Reverse - out July 26 - The Remains is a gorgeously dark and alluring track that draws on elements of post-metal, shoegaze and slowcore to craft something utterly enthralling.

La escena musical de Los Ángeles ha sido crisol para un sinfín de bandas, e Iress no es la excepción. Nacida en 2010, esta agrupación ha sabido tallarse un espacio único que mezcla oscuridad y belleza sonora. Al frente está Michelle Malley, apodada por sus colegas como “la Adele del Doom”. Su voz, capaz de ir de una calidez ahumada a un desgarrador alarido. Completan el cuadro Michael Maldonado en el bajo, Glenn Chu en la batería y Graham Walker en la guitarra. Juntos han cultivado una química que se traduce en presentaciones en vivo impactantes.

Iress teje capas de guitarras demoledoras, texturas atmosféricas y ritmos taciturnos, creando un tapiz sonoro que fusiona oscuridad con belleza. Con su próximo LP, Sleep Now, In Reverse, y una gira internacional programada para este 2024, la banda invita a los oyentes a un viaje donde la penumbra y la hermosura se entrelazan.

Precisamente, “The Remains” es el segundo sencillo de este esperado álbum que verá la luz el 26 de julio. La canción se presenta como un duelo emocional desgarrador. La voz de Malley flota sobre un colchón de riffs pesados, creando un contraste cautivador. La letra, cargada de reproches, refleja la amargura de una relación rota, y remarca la sensación de derrota y aceptación forzada.

“The Remains” no es un canto fúnebre, sino una aceptación de la pérdida envuelta en la potencia sonora de Iress. Es una oda a la belleza que surge de las cenizas, dejando entrever que la banda sigue afinando su capacidad para evocar emociones crudas a través de su particular doomgaze.

Over the years Iress has evolved, always exploring new dimensions in their sound, yet always showcasing Malley’s equally fragile and ferocious vocals. Their intentionality in crafting concise songs, each flickering into existence with magnificent intensity, aligns with nuanced storytelling.

Style: Post Metal, Doom Metal, Shoegaze

Like: Emma Ruth Rundle, Holy Fawn, True Widow

Label: Dune Altar / Church Road Records

Adjectives: Sentimental, Evocative, Brooding

Description: The Remains is the second single from the forthcoming album Sleep Now, In Reverse by Iress, set to be released on July 26th, 2024. The track is a moody piece that builds up to some of the heaviest sounds Iress has ever created. It features poignant doom-laden riffs and powerful drumming, complemented by melancholic, ethereal vocals, creating a blend which seems both accessible and intense. The song exemplifies Iress' signature combination of heavy rock and shoegaze, evoking a strong sense of gloominess, sentimentality, and dynamism.

I'm floating away on stormy doom seas, clinging to the ethereal melodies of IRESS‘s new single “The Remains”! This track carries the crushing weight of harrowing doom riffs and percussion while the melancholic angelic vocals tear at your soul. It wounds like the lament you sing as the last vestiges of human civilization slip into silence and death. But “The Remains” isn’t purist doom, it’s better than that—they bring in unexpected sounds that break the mold, weaving in elements of shoegaze, dark folk, and alternative rock. It’s off their upcoming record Sleep Now, In Reverse that comes out on July 26th via Dune Altar and Church Road Records — pre-order it here. Today we’re excited to be sharing their single “The Remains” with you, and if you’re in the L.A. area you can catch them in the coming months, dates below…

Glenn Chu: “The main guitar riff was unconsciously inspired by an Aaliyah song.”

Michelle: “When Glenn showed us, it immediately sparked inspiration. We built it out together and it quickly became a band favorite. I feel ‘The Remains’ really opened up another level of the album. It’s dark and mysterious in a way and we do things we’ve never done before. The lyrics on this song are also some of my favorite on the record.”

Iress – Falling

The latest addition to the Church Road Records stable, Iress‘ new single ‘Falling’ heralds an incoming new album Sleep Now, In Reverse. due July 26. ‘Falling’ continues to evolve their dreamy take on heavy shoegaze, vocalist Michelle Malley as riveting a presence as ever. There’s palpable anguish despite the languid pace of the song; they’ve been compared to standing on the beach watching an incoming tidal wave, and that’s a particularly apt descriptor for how ‘Falling’ washes over and subsumes all in its path. It feels gentle, but there’s power to the guitars and crashing cymbals that propel it. An intense listen, awash with sorrow, it marks Iress‘ latest out as their strongest work yet. – Will Marshall

Joe recommends: The opener from their upcoming record Sleep Now, In Reverse, “Falling” is a shoegaze track that feels relatable and down to earth amid its layers of gentle, shimmering bliss. Michelle Malley‘s voice is a perfect fit to the music with a controlled and carefully faltering delivery to induce absolute heartbreak.

The stalwart Los Angeles-based dream metal band, Iress, has just released the first single ‘Falling’ from their upcoming album Sleep Now, In Reverse. The album will be released on 26th July 2024 via Church Road Records (ROW) and Dune Altar (USA).

How the bloody hell do you describe Iress to someone who has never heard a single note of theirs but is taken in by the ‘dream metal’ moniker? Think of it like pop-doom, with heavy and despondent atmosphere. With that, you’re kind of on the right path, but throw in a lot of emotion, and the picture will become clearer, hopefully. Falling is all of this, and so much more. Oozing melancholic vibes, the instruments and vocals combine to create something so ‘dreamlike’, and before you know it, you’ve sunk into Iress fully.

The stalwart Los Angeles-based dream metal band, IRESS, has just released the first single “FALLING” from their upcoming album Sleep Now, In Reverse. IRESS’ music is the sonic equivalent of standing on a beach as a tidal wave approaches -- aware of certain devastation, yet transfixed and grateful to witness something so terrifyingly beautiful. Drawing inspiration from dark, yet commanding elements including metal, shoegaze, and slowcore, their music presents a cinematic crescendo that swells with intensity and wanes with sorrow.

Vocalist Michelle Malley states:

"Sometimes it's nice to leave the meaning of a song up to interpretation, though I will say the lyrics of "Falling" speak volumes, depicting an emotional tug of war. The song started with the simple guitar riff in the intro and really just transformed into something remarkable. It was an incredible experience to witness it's evolution."

IRESS formed in the musical crucible of Los Angeles in 2010. Frontwoman Michelle Malley, dubbed "the Adele of Doom” by LA music peers, possesses vocals that range from an enveloping smokey warmth to anguished belting, revealing an emotional depth that arrests with unbelievable restraint and control. The band, composed of bassist Michael Maldonado, drummer Glenn Chu, and guitarist Graham Walker, have fostered a chemistry that translates seamlessly to the stage. Their live performances are intentional and dynamic, leaving audiences stunned to silence, moved to tears, and immersed in a satisfying amount of crushing distortion.

Over the years Iress has evolved, always exploring new dimensions in their sound, yet always showcasing Malley’s equally fragile and ferocious vocals. Their intentionality in crafting concise songs, each flickering into existence with magnificent intensity, aligns with nuanced storytelling. Iress seamlessly weaves layers of crushing guitars, atmospheric textures, and brooding rhythms, creating a sonic tapestry that blends darkness and beauty. With their upcoming LP, Sleep Now, In Reverse, and an international touring schedule in 2024, Iress invites listeners to be transported to a realm where darkness and beauty intertwine.