Not long ago, Blackwater Holylight left their Pacific Northwest stomping grounds, and the gray, rainy days there, for sunny Los Angeles. The band (Eliese Dorsay – drums, Sunny Faris – bass, guitar, vocals, Mikayla Mayhew – guitar, Sarah McKenna – synths) decided they needed not only a change of space, but of perspective, and the resulting album, Not Here Not Gone, reflects the feeling of being between physical and mental spaces.
The title of the opening track, “How Will You Feel,” reflects this as Faris asks us to examine our emotions and physical reactions as we adapt to change (willingly or not). The sound of this song also reflects the blending and shifting of shapes for the band. They meld their Pacific Northwest “gloomgaze” sound with bright southern California synths.
Their love of shoegaze comes through strong on “Involuntary Haze” – which could be a drug reference, but I doubt it. I think it’s about the odd feeling of being confused after you’re thrust into a new situation or place and are overwhelmed by sensory input. They crank up the amps and gravity on “Bodies.”
“Heavy, Why?” was the album’s first single and it’s a good example of BWHL’s blend of shoegaze, metal, psychedelia, and, I’ll say it, dreampop. Faris’ voice could easily carry an entire dreampop album if she wanted, and McKenna’s synths almost add an ELO touch to the song. Mayhew riffs on this practically shove you into a wall.
The instrumental “Giraffe” is a short mix of smoky synths and electro beats to shift your brain and ears into further exploration of the path BWHL have laid out on the album…because along comes “Spades” – a track that will impress all of your metalhead friends and have dudes in battle-vests running for their merch table. It’s one of the best metal tracks of the year…and it’s only January. Dorsay’s drumming on “Void to Be” reminds me of tribal beats designed to change your perception of what’s around you.
“Fade” is another standout. It’s downright gorgeous and is one of the best shoegaze tracks of the year…and it’s only January. “Mourning After” is the kind of song that BWHL do so well: Somewhat gothic, somewhat heavy, somewhat fuzzy, somewhat crushing, somewhat sad, all beautiful. The closer, “Poppyfields,” is pulsating stunner about a friend of the band losing their home in a California wildfire.
BWHL have long been considered a doom band with their heavy riffs and heavy lyrics. The last time I saw them live, at the 2021 Psycho Music Festival in Las Vegas, Faris opened the show by saying, “Hi. We’re Blackwater Holylight, and we’re going to play a bunch of sad songs for you.” There is far more to them than doom and gloom, however. There’s always a powerful strength and at least a glimmer of hope on all of their albums. Not Here Not Gone is no exception.
This is in the running for one of the top albums of the year…and it’s only January.
Keep your mind open.
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[Thanks to Andi at Terrorbird Media.]