Inheaven

At first listen you’d be forgiven for not realizing that Inheaven is actually a band from 2017 and not the 90s or early aughts. With their rambunctious distorted guitar riffs and an unrelenting subdued intensity, save for maybe “Baby’s All Right” bubblegum melodies or the poppy-esque tendencies of “Do you Dream,” they sound like they belong more alongside Slowdive, The Jesus and Mary Chain or The Strokes.

Hailing from South London Inheaven was born out of a collaboration between bassist/vocalist Chloe Little's, a film student, visuals which vocalist/guitarist James Taylor used as songwriting inspiration. From there “Regeneration,” their first single, was born and shortly after it caught the attention of Stroke's frontman Julian Casablanca's Cult Records. Over the next two years a handful of singles cropped up including “Bitter Town,” “Baby’s All Right,” and “All There Is” until the release of their debut self titled album earlier this month.  

Infectious and wired, I didn't realize how badly I was craving this nostalgic shoegazy grunge sound until stumbling onto the album in a stray playlist of mine. Sure, they’re a bit derivative but they make it sound so fantastic, it’s hard not to fall in love with them if even for a couple of minutes. 

Personal faves (in no particular order):

Regeneration

Drift

Do You Dream