One Hundred Moons - Black Avalanche

​One Hundred Moons

Black Avalanche
self-released; 2025

TOP ALBUM

By Dan Weston
​

Growing up on moody indie acts from the 90s and early 2000s, I was hooked on Black Avalanche by One Hundred Moons almost immediately. Formed in 2021 by Collin Young, Jen Vella, Justin Hunt, Matt Laplante, and NJ Borreta, the band works at the intersection of shoegaze, dream pop, and post rock, merging saturated guitars, soft focus melodies, and the kind of slow rising tension that defined the emotional edges of 90s alt rock. Their influences such as My Bloody Valentine, Portishead, Slowdive, and Radiohead are easy to spot, but the pull comes from how they reshape those touchpoints into something distinct and intentionally their own.

The title track sets the pace. I was digging the bass and drum work which reminded me of Mogwai. The reverb laced vocals work great here. There are explosive sections and a lot of moments that drift into post rock for me and not unlike a band like Godspeed You! Black Emperor. There is some serious rocking out at times too. Great opener.

“Death of the Party” is lush and I really liked the vocals. The track carries a moody, almost southern gothic undertone, as if filtered through the prism of Portishead’s early experiments. “Chairman of the Bored” is a great one. The vocals bloom like a light from the darkness. I loved the sense of solace and the guitar arpeggios.

“Ear to Ear” has a forward moving momentum and a great bass and drum groove. “Shade of Night” almost has this moonlit jazz blues touch, though it stays anchored in the band’s aesthetic. “Volodya” shifts toward more post rock infused material, stretching the sound into something more expansive. “Hall of Mirrors” is a moody track that focuses heavily on atmosphere. They rock out hard on “The Architect,” letting the guitars snarl a little more without losing shape.

They save the most ambitious cut for last. The seven plus minute “Into Nowhere” travels through several phases, from lush and serene passages to towering sheets of distortion. It feels like a final summation, every influence and every instinct pulled into one long exhale.

This record felt perfect for someone my age who was born in the early 80s and was into underground music since I was twelve listening to My Bloody Valentine, Portishead, Mogwai and like minded bands. It is a killer gem of an album. Highly recommended.

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