In The Afterglow, the work of British-Canadian sonic architect Alfred Hermida, returns with a knockout punch of shoegaze brilliance on “Words We Couldn’t Say” – a track that’s contrastingly bruising and beautiful. Released May 2, 2025, this single drags you into a swirling vortex of reverb-soaked guitars and unshakable melancholy. Buckle up – this is shoegaze with teeth.
Hermida’s not messing around. He’s giving some serious My Bloody Valentine vibes, but at maximum energy. The guitars hit you like a tidal wave – one second they’re crushing your bones, the next they’re tinkling like broken glass in a tornado. But don’t think this is just noise for noise’s sake. Every screech and wail is there to twist the knife, to make you feel that gut-punch of regret, those words that got stuck in your throat and haunted you ever since. And his voice cuts through the chaos like a lighthouse beam in a hurricane. Rough as hell, but with this eerie beauty that floats above it all, like some ghost reliving its worst memories over and over.
But here’s the kicker – Hermida’s not just rehashing old tricks. He’s taking the shoegaze rulebook, ripping it to shreds, and stitching it back together with bits of circuit board and computer code. This Vancouver alt-scene wizard is playing mad scientist, mixing good old-fashioned human angst with some seriously trippy AI tech. This gives us one hell of a song that’ll melt your brain and punch you in the belly at the same time.
The global shoegaze mafia’s already taken notice. With nods from DKFM and a Radio Wigwam Best International Band nomination under their belt, In The Afterglow proves they’re not just part of the scene – they’re pushing it forward. As Last Day Deaf raved: “Thundering, reverb-soaked guitars and dreamy yet forceful vocals.” Damn right. “Words We Couldn’t Say” isn’t here to coddle you. It’s a liberating scream into the void, a four-and-a-half-minute fever dream that’ll leave your speakers smoking and your heart racing. Hermida’s poured his soul into this track, backed by drums that’ll rattle your bones and guitars that soar to the stratosphere.
“Words We Couldn’t Say” is streaming now on all platforms. Dive into the storm of In The Afterglow and let this track rip your heart out through your eardrums.