Release Date: May 08th 2026. Record Label: RidingEasy Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl.
Deadlights - Tracklisting
1.There
2.Heaven Felt Too High
3.I Fall Apart
4.The Other Side
5.It's So Amazing
6.Deadlights
7.No Ones Around Now
8.Love Like A Dog
9.I Want You Here
10.With That Body
Review
Deadlights is the debut album from multi-instrumentalist Lauren Lakis and this record takes a mature approach with it’s great style of Alt Rock, Shoegaze, Psych, Grunge, Post-Rock and some gloomy heaviness that showcases a fondness of the Nineties Rock scene. Inspired by the likes of HOLE, Deftones and HUM, Lauren never plays it safe by merging some haunting themes and real life experiences into the album.
Lauren has experienced some tough moments in life such as losing multiple family members and friends to addiction. Her mother was in a major car accident that left her paralyzed. Unfortunately, after the car accident, Lakis’s mother’s health deteriorated, and Deadlights was recorded over the last year of life
I’m majorly surprised at how majorly uplifting and therapeutic that Deadlights actually is and you have to respect Lauren for not adding a truly dark aesthetic into the album. The record has its fair share of Classic Rock and Poppy moments filtered through the album. The instrumental work is super tight especially on the early tacks of There, Heaven Felt Too High and Fall Apart which allows the record to expand into areas of Progressive and Psychedelic textures with a sullen Indie Rock mood which remains constantly grounded.
If you dig bands such as SLOW CRUSH and SOM then you’ll be surprised by what is played here. Sometimes the music can be quite melancholic and bittersweet but there’s a hidden emotional depth that gives you a brief insight into what Lauren has experienced in her life.
Deadlights is at its best when Lauren plays a heavier and aggressive style of Shoegaze, Grunge and Alt Rock melodies which become more dominant on tracks such as It’s So Amazing, Deadlights and No One’s Around Now. There’s a real “storyteller’s” theme emerging from Lauren’s vocal performance which shows real maturity that keeps everything dynamically powerful which leaves the listener utterly captivated.
The album will surprise you at how heavy it gets with brief glimpses of Post-Doom atmospherics that appear mostly within the second half of the album and that where perhaps the “DEFTONES” influence mostly comes into play.
The last few tracks Love Like A Dog, I Want You Here and With That Body are my favourite parts of the record as Lauren creates some beautifully played music that once again moves across an emotionally charged style of Post-Rock and Shoegaze with a grizzled determination that allows the music to flow naturally. The lyrics are quite profound with Lauren ending the record with a hopeful message and attitude.
What’s even more surprising is the label who is releasing this label. RidingEasy Records are releasing Deadlights and they’re not really known for releasing Shoegaze/Alt Rock albums but KUDOS to the label for releasing something different.
However, this is Lauren’s moment to impress and she does with this absolutely majestic album which should allow Lauren to become more well known within the Shoegaze scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to RidingEasy Records for the promo.
Deadlights is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records.
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