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Subterrania – Peaks
We review Welsh band Subterrania’s new single Peaks.
With Pastel in the ascendency and label mates Marseille in the rear-view mirror, something is afoot in the UK right now. Ballsy shoegaze and escapist rock ‘n’ roll is on the rise. Throwing their name into the hat next are Subterrania. Their latest single ‘Peaks’, was recorded with Wolf Alice producer Michael Smith and was released last week via Echo Bass Records.
banner image courtesy of Songbird PR.
Artwork courtesy of the band.
Frontman Dylan Cai serves up a vocal that beds in between Liam Gallagher and Pastel’s James Yates. In the angelic verses, Cai arguably delivers the finest homage to Gallagher’s early Oasis days yet.
It’s a record that twists from angelic indie melodies to bruising shoegaze and bluesy rock 'n' roll, forged in the hedonism of the 90s. Like their label mates Marseille and Pastel, the sense of Richey Edwards’ ‘4 Real’ oozes from this single. The lyrics deliver hope (“I see the road ahead”), and the muscular blasts of guitar distribute hope. Together, they can forge a new allegiance of righteous souls marching on big venues and festival main stages.
Despite the many layers, it’s a simplistic record: Melody, noise, and a burst of sweet release in a solo. It’s a reminder that the music's principles haven’t changed, only its purveyors have been weak for too long. Subterrania have kicked off 2025 with a bang!
Subterrania – Knows Me Too Well
We review South Wales band Subterrania new single ‘You Knows Me So Well’.
South Wales’ Subterrania are set to release their latest single ‘You Knows Me Too Well’ this Friday. It’s been eight months since their last release ‘Shine’ hit the airwaves and grabbed rock ‘n’ roll fans’ attention Can they maintain momentum?
*banner image & artwork courtesy of Songbird PR.
Image & artwork courtesy of the band.
Where ‘Shine’ embodied the boozy swagger of early Oasis, ‘You Knows Me Too Well’ brings it right up to date by leaning into the newfound urgency of Pastel. Dylan Cai’s vocal flits between angelic and hopeful to a raw, lo-fi, defiant roar, allowing music lovers to believe in openness once more.
Our protagonist, blessed with a purity sorely missing in society in 2024, becomes heroic in the closing stages as Cai wrenches, “don’t call my name / when I see you here tomorrow / there’s nothing to blame / but you’re drowning in sorrow” from his soul repeatedly.
Cai summons a guttural two fingers to the world leached from soul whilst Fin Roach’s guitars hiss with the recent urgency of Pastel’s ‘Dancing On A Pin’ and ‘Your Day’. Together, they manoeuvre from a heavy, trippy fog to a distilled rock ‘n’ roll clarity.
Subterrania's three singles have tapped into the trippy psyche and violent rock ‘n’ roll of the all-conquering Pastel. Throw in the mysticism of Rosellas and the laudable comeback of The Crooks, and suddenly, a new wave of psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll is less a bedroom dream and more a juggernaut coming over the horizon.
Click the image below for tickets to their upcoming headline show with This Feeling:
