With shoegaze making a meteoric rise to prominence again, and bands such as Chain Of Flowers and Nothing well on their way to cult icon status, it’s hardly a surprise that bands like Kindling are choosing now to make their big break.
On new EP ‘Galaxies’, all the typical genre tropes are present here – head-crushing swathes of guitars, vocals buried under countless layers of sound and an absolute truckload of reverb. Still, sticking to such a rigid template is both Kindling’s blessing and curse.
While it shows they’re well-versed in their genre’s origins, it often comes across as too formulaic and feels drawn out, as in five-and-a-half minute centrepiece ‘Painkiller’. While long-time shoegaze fans will be happier than a pig in the proverbial with ‘Galaxies’’ four tracks, it does feel like an incredibly difficult transition for anyone else, even in the lighter, poppier lead track ‘Blinding Wave’.
Regardless though, Kindling certainly know what they’re doing and they’re undeniably a talented bunch. It’s just that what they do comes across as a little bit uninspiring.
2.5/5
’Galaxies’ EP by Kindling is released on 6th November on No Idea.
Kindling links: Website|Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp
Words by Luke Nuttall(@nuttall_luke)
