Admittedly, I’m not at all familiar with Cold Gawd, but after seeing a handful of people mention the band’s new EP, Glory2, on Threads, I thought I’d give it a spin. I didn’t know what to expect, but what I heard instantly blew me away. This EP is a short-sweet burst of indie shoegaze with a raw edge that’s oddly moreish.
Kicking off the EP with the title track, I was thrust into a digital world of twinkly electronic synth and a stuttery IDM-like breakbeat. I’m not sure where this trend of blending indie rock with drum breaks comes from, but I’m all for it. Already I’m hooked; it’s bright, hazy, and euphoric without being melancholic.
The next track is more in line with what I expected from Cold Gawd: dreamy, hazy shoegaze with booming reverb fuzzed up guitar. Anticipate an absolutely massive wall of sound to smack you in the face from the moment the stick hits the snare drum. At times, this EP sounds like a dream, especially in the track Grease, where the blend of ethereal vocals and guitar creates such an unearthly soundscape that I get lost in.
This whole EP is a vibe, while the title track does feel like an outlier; Glory2 is a stunning modern shoegaze EP. It’s catchy, full of grooves, and ticks several boxes for me. There are some electronic elements, shoegaze, and some emo-pop elements that scratch an itch.
Oh, and I should also mention the production on Glory2. While it still has a raw edge you’d expect from a shoegaze band, it’s also well polished, balanced, and loud when it needs to be. The massive walls of sound punch without being too overwhelming. There’s an almost glittery aspect to the songs as the highs sparkle in amongst the fuzzy guitars.
The EP’s final track, Glory, which is about vocalist Matthew Wainwright’s dog who passed before the band went on tour, hits kinda hard as I recently lost a dog of my own. The lines “Laying in my arms / Our naps have come to an end,” and the final line “I will hold you forever” are particularly poignant. This lyricism, alongside the droning guitars and the overall atmosphere, makes the song particularly deep.
Overall, Glory2 is a fantastic modern shoegaze EP that brings with it a handful of experimental directions to keep things interesting. It’s well produced; it has massive highs and tight lows and such a great atmosphere. For me, it has been a perfect introduction to the band and has me hooked. I’m definitely going to deep dive into the band’s previous releases.
Score: 8.5/10
Cold Gawd‘s Glory2 dropped on August 28, 2026, via Dais Records.
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