The cover of trauma ray‘s new EP, Carnival, pretty much lets you know what you’re heading into when you start playing it.
Starting with the instrumental and slightly creepy “Carousel,” the EP instantly creates a spooky atmosphere. It made me imagine seeing a carnival emerge from fog as you’re out for an early walk or drive and think, “Wait…That wasn’t here yesterday.” It then jumps into “Hannibal,” which hits with hard Helmet-like riffs that roar with fury and also melt your mind with echoing shoegaze vocals.
“Méliès” is named after French filmmaker Georges Méliès and is about making up illusions and alternate realities in your mind to deal with trauma and strife around you. The massive guitars and heavy drum hits also help purge your stress.
“Funhouse” gets heavier, believe it or not, dropping doom riffs on you from behind warped mirrors and twisting passages but then sliding into Slowdive-like sounds that will leave you thinking, “Wait…Is this the same band?” The closer, “Clown,” is about tragedy lurking behind comedy. The powerful guitar chords and snare hits convey suppressed rage and the urge to let it loose upon the world.
You’ll want to let this EP loose upon the world by cranking it so loud the entire neighborhood will hear it. They’ll thank you for it.
Keep your mind open.
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