Spotlights, the Brooklyn-based band whose music finds “that perfect balance between crushing heaviness and dreamier melodies” (WFPK), release ‘Love & Decay’ via Ipecac Recordings.

On the group’s third full-length Spotlights once again handled production personally, working out of a tiny Brooklyn rehearsal space. However, for the first time, they enlisted the talents of drummer Chris Enriquez on the entire body of work rather than a combination of Mario and guest performers.

Sonically, the group further canvased new territory. Whether it be the hummable guitar lead peeking through trudging grooves on ‘Until The Bleeding Stops’ or the ghostly pop chorus of ‘Particle Noise’, they ascend to a tipping point between volumetric riffing and blissful melodies. ‘Xerox’ bears a sense of delicate intimacy within the delivery. Meanwhile, ‘The Age of Decay’ crescendos towards an emotionally charged harmony coloured by shimmering keys and bright guitars before off-kilter riffs seesaw back-and-forth on the bridge.

This unpredictable, yet unassuming sound quietly heralded their arrival in 2016 on the DIY debut album ‘Tidals’. The song eventually entranced musician and producer Aaron Harris (ISIS/Palms) who shared it with his Palms singer and Deftones frontman Chino Moreno. An invite to open the Deftones summer tour followed as the band would go on to share the stage with everyone from Melvins, Quicksand, Hum and Glassjaw to Pelican and Pallbearer. Ipecac Recordings cofounders Mike Patton and Greg Werckman fell under the band’s spell and signed them. The Harris-produced ‘Seismic’ dropped on Ipecac Recordings in 2017 to acclaim from Revolver, Metal Injection, New Noise, MetalSucks and many others. Between tours, 2018 saw them reveal the ‘Hanging By Faith’ remix EP and one-off single ‘Kiss The Ring’ (featuring Allen Epley).

Mauve coloured double vinyl.