Schröttersburg - Ignis (2026)

A Polish band with a long history, but one I'd never really listened to. It finally changed with Schröttersburg's 7th album, released only a month ago Ignis. Everyone sayd it's post-industrial and post-punky and while this may be true, I'm at this party for the hypnotizing psychedelia of the longer tracks.

Yes, it is dark, yes, the track titles translate to some macabre images (like the Midsommar-esque Szubienice z kwiatów or "Gallows made of flowers"), but to me the Płock-based band is the best when they focus on creating the trance-inducing sections of the ongoing sonic repetitions and short (yes, usually disturibing) phrases shouted over and over again until they drown in the guitar noise eventually. Sorta like 10 000 Russos or other Las Cobras. The emotionless and slightly withdrawn vocals make this impression even more significant and I dig it. This is further enforced when you learn that the title's fire is viewed at the album as " a form of transformation, or spiritual energy" which explains the trance properties.

Of course, I wouldn't be myself if I didn't hear some post-rock in these compositions, especially in the monumental Jaźń, but it's not the clue here. The clue is that I'd love to be a part of the mesmerized audience at Schröttersburg's show right now when I listen to the album. 

Ignis costs 9 EUR.

Check: Jaźń

Country: Poland

Genre: psychedelic post-industrial

Label: Zoharum, DIY Koło, Hidden Beauty, Bat-Cave Production, Esion Records

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hiacynt - bezkres (2026)

There is a number of bands in Poland who say they play shoegaze but very few that actually do that. So I was very happy to discover a band that was under my radar for a couple of years and that is clearly an example of the latter. Hiacynt in Polish means, no surprises here, a hyacinth a flower the ethereal nature of which certainly may be a paralel for the music of the trio. 

So it happens that it is also the 2nd this week band that quotes Nothing as one of their influences and I can only support that. So far, there are two very short EPs released, last year's światło II and bezkres released a month ago. Both very much worth checking out. While not shying away from writing sweet melodies, the artists seem to focus mostly on creating dense and mysterious atmosphere with guitar effects and slightly lo-fi format. It's no surprise that the title of this EP can be translated as "limitlessness". The dreaminess and melancholia of the vast horizons is what comes to mind when drowning in Hiacynt's music.

I saw the band performing live in Kraków the other day and it sounds very well live too, which is not always easy to accomplish for noisy poppers. And from what I understand, the musicians are also a prime example of what not giving up can give you. Maybe not a success quite yet, but surely a handful of great songs. Good start!

bezkres costs 2.5 EUR (10 PLN).

Check: bezkres

Country: Poland

Genre: lo-fi nugaze

Label: MuseUp Polska

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Silk - Auralux (2026)

There is no shortage of new exciting shoegaze in Europe, but I am going to welcome any debutants anyway, especially if they sound like the Irish project. Silk released their first ever (mini)album in May, but it got to my hands only now and I didn't hesitate to count it among the best noisy and dreamy releases of the year.

I don't quite know what to make of it as the label states that this is a solo project while all the visuals show a whole band. And frankly, the depth and the volume of the music, to me clearly indicate multiple people involved. Anyhow. The man behind it is Michael Smyth (ex Virgins) regardless and you can clearly hear that he is no real debutante. If you can almost touch the noise, it means this is a good nugaze. No wonder the band members in the picture show their love for Nothing (and yes, they also supported the iconic Americans). 

The sound you can touch as clearly as a wall you hit with your head is one thing, but obviously there is the counterbalance in the form of the dreamy vocals and sweet melodies that are as catchy as they are hypnotic. Clementine, Slide Away or my favourite track here, Pleasures are really not far from the best shoegaze songs from the old masters, but they also feel fresh, just like nugaze intended.

Auralux costs 3.5 EUR (3 GBP).

Check: Pleasures 

Country: Ireland

Genre: nugaze

Label: Blowtorch Records/Shore Dive Records

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