Brooklyn’s Glass Lungs don’t crash into your ears—they creep in, surround you, and slowly take over. Their self-titled EP exists in that delicate tension between shoegaze, ambient post-rock, and subtle shades of metal. It’s music that feels both expansive and deeply personal—where cinematic walls of guitar noise collide with vulnerable, diary-like vocals.

The opening track, “Hideaway,” wastes no time establishing the band’s sonic blueprint. High-pitched guitar tones shimmer and stretch until they collapse into a crushing wave of distortion. The drumming is understated but purposeful—never showy, always in service of the song’s gradual rise and fall. The vocals, soft and airy, hover just above the mix. They aren’t commanding, but they don’t need to be; their power comes from the emotional immediacy, like overhearing someone’s most private thoughts.

If “Hideaway” is the introduction, then “Afterglow” is the refinement. This track leans further into ambient territory with restrained, almost delicate riffs that build tension until the song breaks open in a swell of distorted catharsis. Unlike many bands in the post-rock or shoegaze sphere, Glass Lungs know how to make their climaxes feel earned rather than expected. When the heavier elements arrive, they feel less like noise and more like release—an exhale after holding your breath too long.

That careful dynamic—restraint followed by eruption—is one of Glass Lungs’ greatest strengths. You hear it again in “Absolution,” which may be the EP’s emotional core. The guitar work is thicker here, more weighted, tumbling forward into dark ambience and subtle shifts in vocal delivery. There’s a sadness embedded in the song’s structure—a grief that builds rather than explodes, and lingers even after the final chord fades. The layered backing vocals and fluid drumming add depth without clutter, showing a maturity in arrangement rare for a debut.

“Labyrinth” expands on the band’s spacious side, favoring clean, echoing guitar plucks and gently rolling percussion. The vocals soar more confidently here, stretching into open air and creating a dreamlike mood. The song builds tension not through volume, but through atmosphere—a slow burn rather than a firestorm.

By the time the EP closes with “Misery,” a pattern emerges. The tracks follow similar arcs—gentle intro, steady build, explosive finale. That consistency lends cohesion, but it also risks blending some moments together. Still, Glass Lungs keeps the experience engaging through subtle touches: thick basslines that subtly rumble beneath the mix, sharp drum fills that punctuate moments of silence, and production that gives each texture room to breathe.

There’s a polish here that stands out—especially for a debut EP. Every sound feels intentional, every build carefully paced. Even when the songs don’t always fully distinguish themselves from one another, there’s a clear sense of purpose in the overall vision.

Glass Lungs’ debut is not trying to reinvent the wheel—but it doesn’t need to. Instead, they’ve delivered an emotionally rich, sonically layered introduction that invites you to feel rather than simply listen. Blending post-rock ambience, shoegaze distortion, and subtle post-metal undertones, they’ve carved out a space that’s immersive, melancholic, and quietly powerful.

There’s room for growth—especially in distinguishing song structures and vocal dynamics—but the foundation is strong. For fans of bands like Caspian, Deftones, Holy Fawn, or Nothing, Glass Lungs offers a beautiful, emotionally resonant listen that hints at even greater things to come.

Rating: 7.5/10