British band Abandoned Buildings is back with the release of their debut album, Eroding Light. This collection of tracks sees the band blending different genres from indie rock to shoegaze and even psychedelic vibes.
The album opens with “The Final Escape”, a bold move considering it is over seven minutes long. I was concerned it might be repetitive but the song beautifully showcases the band’s instrumental skills, with many vocal-free moments to truly enjoy the music. It became an instant favorite.
As a complete change, “Rabbit Holes” leans more into shoegaze territory, with lush guitars and hazy vocals. It’s a track that feels like getting lost in a dream. The track’s dreamy atmosphere contrasts nicely with the more energetic and psychedelic “Slow Burner”. While it’s not my personal favorite as it is too heavy for me, I appreciated the acoustic bridge that gives a moment of peace. It felt like a brief moment of calm amongst the chaos.
“Microdose”, one of the album’s already-released singles, surprised me with its guitar intro. But don’t be fooled by its gentle start, it quickly turns into a rock anthem. As a guitar enthusiast, I was particularly drawn to the instrumentation and Paul McNulty’s warm, honeyed vocals make this track a close second favorite.
“Leave Soon” offers a nice interlude in the middle of the album. A moment of calm before the urgency of “Nostalgia”. The latter track is driven by an alarm-like sound that creates a sense of urgency throughout and I found this persistent background sound a bit distracting.
“Flight Risk” is another instrumental piece that I highly recommend listening to with headphones. The intro is like a cool breeze that shifts between your ears (from right to left), mirroring the concept of “flying” from the title. Though the track runs a bit long at 10 minutes, the breeze effect is really enjoyable.
The upbeat “Melting Clouds” reintroduces McNulty’s vocals in a high-octane track that contrasts with the previous songs. The lyrics explore themes of identity but the mix sometimes buries the words beneath the instruments so it makes it difficult to appreciate them in the first half of the song and the chorus.
Then, we have “We Only Came Here To Destroy”, which is a pleasant surprise. With a title like that, I expected a powerful alt-rock track, but instead, I found a relaxing, introspective piece perfect for a quiet night under the stars. It’s a beautiful example of the band’s ability to overturn expectations.
Eroding Light offers something for everyone, whether you’re into heavy rock or instrumental tracks. The album’s diverse range of sounds – from the powerful energy of “Microdose” to the peaceful “We Only Came Here To Destroy” – makes it a perfect introduction to Abandoned Buildings’ sound.
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