Aiers (stylized as A I E R S on some platforms) is an alternative rock trio from New York, NY. Its three core members, Miguel Ramirez (drums), Leo Torres (guitars/keyboards) and Juan Prevost (vocals/bass) have been playing together since 2015. They describe their sound as a combination of early ‘80s post-punk and new wave, ‘90s Britpop, and early 2000s alternative rock “with a splash of electronica.” All of these influences, albeit some more than others, can be heard loud and clear on their nine-song debut album, Shadowland.
Before entering Shadowland, I was immediately intrigued by the diverse mixture of bands Aiers were influenced by. Interpol, Oasis and Nirvana is certainly an “apples and oranges” type of combination, but it makes much more sense when you consider that despite differing styles, they all play alternative rock. All nine tracks of Shadowland were recorded at The Cocoon in Jersey City by Corey Zack and mastered by Josh Bonati in NYC. While the dark allure of bands like Editors and She Wants Revenge shows up in spades on Shadowland, the one major quibble I have with the record is its vocals. I’m not saying that they’re bad, but when trying to reach those higher notes, Prevost has a tendency to sound pitchy. If he’s to keep singing in his higher register, then some vocal training would be beneficial. Otherwise, this debut is musically promising. Since the album has a cohesive feel, the differences between each track are subtle. There are three tracks that I would say are the highlights of this album: “Broken,” “Miles Away” and “Tomorrow.” On the first track, “Broken,” both the bass and drum grooves are tight, and so are the liquifying guitar solos not unlike The Cure. On “Miles Away,” the guitar layers are so thick and textured that you can’t help but wonder if the title is an homage to “I Ran (So Far Away)” by A Flock of Seagulls. I personally also detect some Madchester influence in this “wavering” sort of guitar sound. Think Inspiral Carpets with a dash of Definitely Maybe-era Oasis. At the same time, the low end drives this song even further (pun intended). Finally, on “Tomorrow,” the best one from this batch, the drums are slower and heavier, suggesting less of post-punk and more of gothic rock. Weirdly enough, however, it reminds me of a popular, unreleased demo of Oasis, back when they were still going by The Rain. That demo is “Colour My Life.” It has yet to be officially released, but its spiraling sonics are akin to those exhibited in “Tomorrow.” It makes sense that this one resonates with me the most, especially when you consider that Oasis is my favorite band. Aiers’ Shadowland is 36 minutes of retro ‘80s monochromatic moodiness, and I felt entranced by the guitarist’s magic tricks on cuts like “Broken,” “Miles Away” and “Tomorrow.” The entirety of the music-- drums, bass, guitar, and all-- is sleekly produced and expertly played, and it makes for excellent night time listening! Recommended.
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