Iress has so much going for them, and Glenn’s calculated, outstanding drumming is a big highlight on Sleep Now, In Reverse. I find his beats to be deeply purposeful and completely addictive.

Iress’ latest album, Sleep Now, In Reverse, perfects the art of captivation. Slowly sinking, the doom-infused rock soundscape surrounds you, swallowing you whole as you surrender under its weight. Heavy, pulsing drumming maps a sonic path as a subtle, haunting voice navigates her way through layers of textured noise within the heavy, brooding atmosphere.

Despite my recent discovery of their existence, the LA-based outfit is far from new to the scene. Released earlier this year, the 10-track record is a culmination of their previous work, originating back to their 2010 formation by frontwoman Michelle Malley. The 4-piece welcomes newcomers and longtime fans alike to let go, fully immersing themselves in the experience that is Iress.

I’d never heard Iress before their latest album, and I was greatly impressed with Michelle’s instantly likeable voice. She sings smoothly and memorably, yet can keep up in the rocking moments, and so her voice stands large as a highlight of the year.

Americká kapela Iress vznikla v Los Angeles v roce 2010. Ústřední postavou je kytaristka a výborná zpěvačka Michelle Malley (s přezdívkou „Adele of Doom“). Ve své hudbě kombinují prvky heavy metalu, dream popu, slowcore, shoegaze, doomgaze. To vše najdete na jejich čtvrtém (a dosud nejlepším) albu Sleep Now, In Reverse, které vyšlo v červenci 2024. Hlasový rozsah frontmanky je skvělý, od ostrého po zasněný, mlžný, étérický. Kolekce deseti písní je vzácně vyrovnaná, žádná metalová divočina se nekoná, od každého je tam zrovna tak akorát a úžasně se to doplňuje. Pokud Iress neznáte, objevte je. Parádní věc!

What we said at the time: “The blurry textures are a permanent feature of this music and can become oppressive if you let them affect your listening experience. So, don’t. Instead, follow the emotions of the louder dynamics and let these be your passages underneath the waterfalls… This is just as much an album for guitarists who value the supremacy of textures over flamboyance and red emotions.”

People in the Californian rock scene call her the “Adele of doom”, and Iress made their mark with album number three after signing with Church Road Records. Michelle Malley’s voice invites you into a dream world and blurs your consciousness, navigating you through danger and anguish before reaching a blissful state of existence. These ethereal reverberations will immerse you in a nocturnal world of dream pop and atmospheric metal. Why would you want to go back to reality after experiencing this sensuous tranquility?

Iress delivers a calm and approachable version of doomgaze with heavy accent on the emotional execution of the vocals.

Iress have been called Doomgaze (Big doomy metal riffs meets shoegaze prettiness and walls of noise) band and while that may have been a good description of their older albums, the band have moved on from that with Sleep Now.

There’s not much going on in the way of metal for the first half of this album. Sleep, now is a very good alternative / shoegaze album that reminds me of some of the 90’s 4AD records. However, things start to get heavy half way through the album, where The Remains introduce the loud guitars, while Knell Mera has some great doomy riffs.

Michelle Malley’s voice is the band’s not so secret weapon making the band stand out so far from the others making this kind of music. Her ability to switch between a sweet vocal, adding a hint of gravel and some diva-esque high notes completely changes the band’s vibe and makes them shine all the brighter.

This is an album that effortlessly walks the line between alt rock and metal and hopefully will help the band get the recognition they deserve.

A fantastically dreamy album from Los Angeles. If the woefully underrated Beach House decided to make a metal album it would sound like this. It exists in a netherworld between authentic shoegaze and its, already discussed, bastardised sibling Blackgaze. With exact phrase seems to be dream metal. There are plenty of light and ethereal flourishes alongside a dependable heaviness that grounds the whole thing.

It brims with angst and emotion, but in a shimmering and frequently smooth way. Central to its brilliance is Michelle Malley's stunningly evocative voice. It is a tentpole that the music wraps itself around, creating an infinitely flowing envelope of intoxicating sound.

Iress conforma un discazo abierto a la cavilación de muchos con una riqueza compositiva que por muy fina que parezcan sus bellas líneas sonoras, no deja de tener esa crudeza apasionada que completa las partes más camaleónicas de esta montaña rusa de conmociones.