Leaving Time shares heavyhearted shoegaze on Angel in the Sand
Jacksonville’s shoegaze newcomers, Leaving Time, have released their debut album Angel in the Sand via Sunday Drive Records.
Produced by: John Howard
Since their formation in 2020, Leaving Time has carved out a niche in alternative rock, pulling from hardcore roots to inject a raw intensity into their music. Partnering again with Florida engineer John Howard, the band crafted Angel in the Sand over the course of 2023. Mastered by Zac Montez, known for his work with Cloakroom, Turnover, and Nothing, the album’s sound is both massive and intricately detailed. From the tense, bass-heavy intro to the layered distortion that defines the title track, the production elevates the band’s melancholic message, bringing depth to each song’s emotional weight.
Leaving Time’s Angel in the Sand encapsulates an emotionally charged journey through themes of sorrow, regret, and the weight of past experiences. Building upon the sonic foundation laid in their earlier EPs, Angel in the Sand marks the Florida band’s evolution into a darker, more expansive soundscape. The album blends distorted guitars, resonant drums, and haunting vocals that invoke the image of “sand” as a metaphor, linking failure and hope to the coastal terrain of their Jacksonville home.
Standout single ‘Arm’s Length’ surges with explosive intensity, showcasing the band’s ability to channel built-up tension into moments of sonic release. The album balances these dense soundscapes with quieter passages, as heard in ‘Waiting,’ where drummer Jarod Whalen transitions to a mournful piano outro accompanied by an acoustic guitar. These subtler sections accentuate the heaviness, creating a push-pull effect that enhances the album’s dynamic storytelling.
Describing the album’s closing track, ‘And On,’ the band reflects on accepting pain as part of life’s journey: “It’s not purely optimistic, but it again has a dynamic of contrasting emotions, brushed with dense yet beautiful sounds and melodies.” In this track, Leaving Time leaves listeners with a sense of resilience, wrapped in an atmosphere that is as heavy as it is introspective.
Angel in the Sand establishes Leaving Time as a formidable new voice in shoegaze, one capable of channeling the emotional turmoil of their lyrics into immersive soundscapes that resonate long after the music fades.
Standout Songs: ‘Choke,’ ‘Arm’s Length,’ ‘Angel in the Sand,’ and ‘Burn.’
Release Date: November 1
6.7
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