SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MAD IRIS – MAD IRIS

MAD IRIS
MAD IRIS
BA DA BING RECORDS

Since 2024, Toronto’s Mad Iris has been releasing singles that play with a post-grunge meets shoegaze vibe. In the last year, the band has released three singles – “Daisy, Don’t Take My Baby,” “Poor Baby,” and “Employee Of The Month” – as as they gear up towards their debut, full-length album, Mad Iris.

“Silver Nails” opens the album with a wave of fuzzy guitars and distorted vocals, led by an abrasive riff, before opening into a lush chorus. The contrast between the sections stands out as the band demonstrates the capabilities to be both melodic and aggressive with equal conviction. The Deftones’ influence is immediately clear; however, Mad Iris builds on this foundational sound. The following track, “Poor Baby, shows this through a loose, jangly song with a ‘90s and grunge aesthetic, largely driven by the incredibly catchy chorus.
The remaining five tracks see Mad Iris continue to develop their sound through a series of moody melodies and dark progressions. From the melancholic sway of “The Confession” to the shifting passages of “Daisy, Don’t Take My Baby,” there is a level of risk-taking and adventure to the songwriting that shines. This is further seen in the climactic closer, “The One I Wrote For You,” a song driven by relentless intensity as the vocals and band slowly disintegrate into a wave of indistinguishable noise in the final chorus, to incredibly dramatic effect.

Mad Iris serves as a strong debut, establishing the band as one with a distinctive sound and feel. While highly reminiscent of Deftones, the record sees the band straddle indie rock, shoegaze, and alt rock in a uniquely heavy fashion that is often absent from the former two styles. Most importantly, the album makes a strong case for Mad Iris as skilled songwriters unafraid to take a chance as they find their voice on their debut album.​

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