REVIEW: Slow Crush - Thirst

From Belgian alternative shoegaze band Slow Crush comes Thirst, the follow up to the critically acclaimed predecessor albums Aurora and Hush. Before heading out on a UK tour this October, Slow Crush, consisting of vocalist/bassist Isa Holliday and drummer Frederik Meeuwis, along with guitarists Jelle Ronsmans and Nic Placlé, will be dropping their haunting new album, with promises of exploration of yearning, emotional erosion, and the lingering sorrow of connection. Thirst is an emotionally charged release, breaking a new ground of vulnerability for Holliday, and bringing dreamy vocals and heavy riffs through each track.

Whilst the lyrics to the opening track ‘Thirst’, the first single release from the album, are simple, they are also deeply poetic, and vocalist Isa Holliday delivers each line with passion and emotion, surrounded by a wall of reverb-laden guitars and an intense atmosphere. ‘Covet’ starts in a way you wouldn’t expect; with simply an acoustic guitar, but soon crashes into the gloomy vibe that follows through to the rest of the tracks. The unexpected elements continue with a saxophone solo which strangely doesn’t feel out of place; ending the song on a high.

‘Cherry’ starts as it means to go on; with the song being another one released as a single, it doesn't quite hit as hard as the songs before or after it but the dreamy vocals compliment the loud guitar backing, with an accompaniment of some heavy riffs and even heavier drumming. ‘Leap’ is the anomaly in the album; starting slow and quiet but building into a crashing release of emotion from Isa, with whispered tones and crashing guitars. The track delivers more of the passionate lyricism found through the entire album.

‘Hollow’ is potentially the dreamiest track on the album; reverb heavy, but vocally soft,

demonstrating Holliday’s soothingly melancholic tones, but closes with a complimentary cushion of extra screaming in the background. Track six ‘Haven’ is a quintessential shoegaze song, with a well-executed fusion of the genre and emotional contrasting sounds. ‘While You Dream Vividly’ is another single already released into the world; another lyrically uncomplicated track, backed by a wall of heavy guitar distortion.

‘Bloodmoon’ follows, with backing vocals welcoming us to the track, with a quiet middle section of the song preceding a crashing end to the song, with Holliday’s emotive vocals soothing the listener. Instrumental track ‘Ógilt’ delivers a brief intermission from the weighty cascade of emotions you will feel yourself experiencing throughout the album, then leads perfectly into closing track, ‘Hlýtt’, delivering a triumphant, powerful end to the album, with heavy riffs and the complimentary screaming vocals in the background, closing off an vibrantly gloomy but powerful track list.

On the face of it, Thirst appears to be an easy to listen to, uncomplicated composition, but when you listen more closely, what may be lacking in extended lyrical content, is enhanced by the sheer emotion that every line is delivered, and every beat played. This album is an ethereal dream, where you will be transported to a place of gloom but will relish every note.

Score: 9/10

Thirst will be released on August 29th 2025 via Pure Noise Records.

Words: Lou Viner

Photos: Slow Crush