Church Road Records have been collecting unheard gems from all over the world in the past few years – Russia, Scotland, Sweden and now Italy.
Hailing from the small Italian town Faenza, Matteo Vandelli (vocals, guitar), Margherita Mercatali (guitar) and Michele Leonardi (drums) first got together in 2016. Mondaze released their first demo ‘Healing Dreams’ in 2018 and across 3 tracks they showcased a dreamy but pleasantly heavy shoegaze sound and left audiences wanting more. Now, three years and one pandemic later, the quartet have released t heir long-awaited debut full-length, Late Bloom. Having all the time and space necessary while the world stood still for many months, the quartet have crafted a beautiful and immersive album.
The album’s first half is a gloomy daydream, featuring slower plaintive melodies, taking its time to unfurl its wings. ‘Worlds Undone’ finally does that with full power as it dives into the best tradition of shoegaze. Building up slowly, the track reaches its peak with the distant cacophony of cymbals and comes crashing down like a tidal wave, leaving a single tune as an afterthought. ‘Honest Feelings’ then changes the pace significantly, coming in with energetic rhythms and a screamed intro.
‘Interlude’ divides the record in two and with the second part the mood is different. ‘How Soon is Soon?’ and ‘Swirl Back’ pick up the pace and inject their shoegaze with some post-hardcore vibes. Second single ‘Lost’ boasts a prominent central riff, surrounded by echoing vocal, ghostly sirens and powerful drums.
Mondaze have created a solid and fascinating debut record, with its distinct mood and an extraordinary sound. Dreamy landscapes are masterfully crafted by the quartet and the album is truly an immersive piece. Even during the record’s heaviest moments, screams are added to the mix so carefully to not disturb the gentle fabric of the soundscapes. Mondaze skilfully balance shoegaze and post-hardcore, one second distilling those into separate glasses and with the next one mixing them into a bowl with heavier influences and dream pop. The Italian quartet have showcased their impressive musical ability on this record.