Shockpowder is a shoegaze, post-metal project with metal influences founded by Joshua Scurfield in 2015 and Numb But Fragile is his latest single, released on 30/06/2023.
Already a fan of Shockpowder after reviewing a few previous releases, I was excited to receive this one to see what he had produced this time! I was not disappointed. Using sound to paint dreams, Shockpowder intends to “capture the power and emotional glory of dreams and the human psyche” with his music.
This song has an added mournfulness as it is about how a death affected him from a young age and throughout his life, and I am sure it is a theme many people can resonate with.
With the usual blend of shoegaze and metal infusions that we have come to know and love from Shockpowder, this track is more atmospheric than previous releases due to the nature of the heartfelt lyrics. Once again, this is a song of ups and downs, with serene verses that have more laid-back guitar work and drumming but it is in the choruses that the guitars and drums really step up a notch or three and hit you right in the stomach.
The shoegaze element is more evident in this track too, with fuzzy guitars really merging with the haunting vocals, almost to the point of inaudibility of the lyrics, but creating a very sorrowful ambience to the song.
I am always amazed how this guy manages to get the sound he does, but that just goes to prove his talent and musicianship. Please head on over to Spotify or Soundcloud and look up Shockpowder. His music is hard-hitting, ambient, and emotional.
This one actually brought tears to my eyes!
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