Glorybots

Barreling out of the speakers with a weightiness that immediately made me think of the Melvins in their prime, and yet entirely more pop-friendly than the legendary PNW sludge rockers have ever been, there’s no denying the physical strength of the riff in “Radiate,” the latest single from Glorybots’ critically-acclaimed Invisible LP. Released in 2020 to a solid round of applause from the fans and indie media alike, Invisible’s best material tends to have a heavy backend swing, and thus, there’s an argument to be made that “Radiate” is one of its ultimate identity tracks and a staple of its core sound. 

WEBSITE: https://glorybots.com/ 

Though the cosmetics of the track are dazzling for those who appreciate both allusions to the classical pop aesthetic and heavy rock grooves in general, the compositional structure of this song is what impresses me the most about it. 

Facilitating raw catharsis when we’re least expecting it with a series of harmonies as bright as the California sunshine they reference, “Radiate” goes off like a nuclear bomb after pressing play and lets its effects seep into our bones like untreated plutonium. It’s volatile and incendiary, but definitely one of the most memorable indie pop/rock recordings I’ve reviewed in the month of September. 

I really loved the Invisible LP from the moment I heard it for the first time-forward, and for a proper test taste of what it can offer listeners, I would recommend giving “Radiate” a spin and examining its neo-psychedelic music video for yourself. It’s a good place to start your acquaintance with Glorybots, and while it’s far from the only worthwhile content he’s released since coming into the underground spotlight a couple of years ago with Dark Alien Pop, it’s by far some of the smartest listening you’re going to find this season (or in 2020 period). 

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Trace Whittaker

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

9/2020