From the heart of Belgium’s hardcore scene, Loud Love brings their first full-length album, Bright Shadows. A collision of melodic hooks and raw intensity, the album weaves together themes of love, regret, and resilience.
Limited to 275 pieces on mustard-colored vinyl from White Russian Records, Bright Shadows brings in an exploration of life’s madness and contradictions.
This debut features an 11-track lineup with names like Cannonball, Taylor, and Imposter Syndrome, which reveal Loud Love’s expanded sound, leaning into emotional and melodic depths without losing their hardcore edge. Featuring veterans of Belgium’s hardcore and punk scenes—Dries Olemans (formerly of Circle, The Setup, Overlord), David, Kristof, Dries M, and Lars—their past work with bands like Cast-Down, El.Mirage!, and We’rewolves serves as the foundation for a collective experience they now channel through Loud Love.
In Bright Shadows, produced by Tim Van Doorn, there’s a deliberate movement into a space where melody and intensity coexist.
Songs like Renaissance carry echoes of early 2000s emo but turned up with grit and energy, while Best Kept Secret and Costello showcase a melodic, post-punk side, offering a balance that feels fresh yet grounded. Loud Love’s sound has matured—reaching a new emotional register without abandoning the hardcore roots that built their reputation.
Olemans’ vocals stand out, shifting between ferocity and a more introspective tone, particularly on tracks like Bloodred and Shadowplay.
These songs channel a cathartic release that’s as introspective as it is powerful.
Thematically, Bright Shadows reflects the band’s journey through struggles with loss and loneliness—a theme Olemans notes as both painful and hopeful. “This is an album filled to the brim with hope and PMA. We wrote songs about passion, love, promise, dreams… expressing what we truly believe: that in the end, everything will be just fine,” he shares, grounding the record in resilience.
With Bright Shadows, Loud Love have captured a spirit that extends beyond genres, making this record an anthem for anyone who finds strength in confronting life’s shadows.
