This Friday, October 11th, marks the release of “Terrible,” the new single from Spanaway, an up-and-coming post-hardcore/shoegaze band featuring drummer Keith Goldoni of Fuming Mouth fame.
The track serves as a precursor to their debut album, Songs of Yesteryear, slated for release on December 6th through Burial Whisper.
“Terrible” is a song that delves deep into emotional dissonance, as guitarist Robby Vena explains: “’Terrible‘ is the ending of a significant relationship. Icing over the pain by romanticizing even the worst moments. Growing to accept that those injuries were disproportionate to the fleeting good times.” This introspective take on loss and acceptance shines through in the song’s raw, shoegazy textures and melancholic atmosphere, balancing between dissonant riffs and sweet, haunting melodies.
The upcoming album, Songs of Yesteryear, has been carefully crafted, recorded at the renowned God City Studio by Zach Weeks and mastered by Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna.
The album art, designed by Dylan Garrett Smith, further adds to the immersive aesthetic that spans both the music and the visual presentation.
Formerly known as Blush, Spanaway has already garnered attention in the underground scene, with notable reviews from outlets like NoEcho.net, which praised their “shoegazy guitars and goth” sound, calling it a “totally immersive listening experience.” Revolver Magazine also highlighted their ability to contrast “the brutal with the beautiful,” comparing them to bands like Cloakroom and Hum.
Reflecting on their unique sound, Vena sheds light on their diverse influences: “We all found each other through hardcore, and that is certainly our cornerstone sonically. But in that same breath, we all share reverence for 90’s alt, post-punk, shoegaze, etc.” He goes on to express how the band draws from the emotional intensity of the hardcore scene while acknowledging the cathartic aftermath that comes with it. “The underground has always existed as a lightning rod for pain… There’s a half-life to that discomfort once the dust settles, an emotional fallout. Surviving the blast and braving that mental dystopia is where our biggest influences lie.”
Hailing from Stroudsburg, PA, a town that sits between major metropolitan areas like New York City and Philadelphia, Spanaway’s work reflects the transient, often turbulent energy of their surroundings. Vena recalls the time spent making this album while living in a crumbling punk house on Main Street in Stroudsburg: “The place was falling to pieces, there were winters with no heat, crime was significant… I think all of that hostility and unrest bled its way onto the album.” The sense of unease and impermanence that defines their hometown clearly informs the sonic landscape of Songs of Yesteryear, making it a product of both personal and environmental unrest.
For fans of bands like Failure, Hum, and Nothing, Spanaway’s Songs of Yesteryear is set to deliver a compelling blend of post-hardcore grit and shoegaze dreaminess. The digital and limited cassette album will be released on December 6th, 2024, and is available for pre-order now via Burial Whisper.
