New Music: Sky is Alright – Catacombs

London-based Rishi Neal Arora and LA-based Chris Gregory are the creative powerhouses behind shoegaze outfit Sky is Alright. Known for their work with Signal Hill and The Littlest Viking, they bring elements of those bands’ diffuse styles to Catacombs, giving shoegaze a fresher, more vivid palette.

The track, a highlight of their recently released eponymous LP, brings a more rock aesthetic to shoegaze while remaining true to some of the genre’s core elements – focused on the distorted guitars and hushed vocals.

The song has a more complex rhythm than you initially expect, and the percussion pierces the moments of reverie and sharp rock tones reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins at their most visceral. The 90s influence is strong on Catacombs, though the decade is referenced with such panache and inventiveness it allows Sky is Alright to redefine that era on their terms.

Head over to the band’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts for further details on how to listen to Catacombs. Additionally, you can pick up Sky is Alright on Bandcamp in digital, CD, and vinyl formats via Somewherecold. You can also stream Catacombs on Spotify and Apple Music.