The Shrines – Spilled Ink (2024)
At first look, The Shrines appear as another rock duo hitting my virtual desk. Another band, another song, nothing particularly special… oh how wrong I was. Taking a deeper delve into the Danish pair, they exude eccentricity, diversity, originality and off-kilter obscurity melodically, lyrically and, um, location-wise. With wanderlust in their veins, Anne Jensen and Rasmus Hamann are currently travelling the world on a 42-foot sailboat creating music on their “floating music studio” with individuals they meet along the way. In Greece, The Shrines met musician Omer Margolin, and ‘Spilled Ink’ is the fruition of that artistic collaboration.
Returning to the music scene – or is it just rearing their head above water for a moment to share their sound with the world – ‘Spilled Ink’ is a heady swirl of vintage grunge and alternative rock. As with previous material, The Shrines’ music is immersive and cannot be only heard but must be experienced. When I listen to ‘Spilled Ink’, I lose myself in exactly that – a sonic rush of spilt ink over my head.
Falling into the tunnel to Wonderland, pounding drums, bold bass and searing guitars engulf you in a dark veil; however, the flood of the melody seems to stick to your skin. The instrumental distortion drips from your fingers, as the gruff and gritty vocals slither in your ears. Chaotic, discomforting, and a little suffocating, The Shrines cover each inch of your soul with their spilt ink. Yet, while a bit stifling, ‘Spilled Ink’ exudes a refreshing breath washing away concerns, fears, and vulnerability.
This is my introduction to The Shrines, but their musical stylings are already seeing an international following. In 2018, the pair’s single ‘Nightfall’ garnered global interest from blogs, playlists, radio stations, and a comparison to the group Queens of the Stone Age. In 2022, The Shrines released their critically acclaimed debut album Your Damned Time, followed over two years later by ‘Spilled Ink’. If this new single is anything to go by, I foresee far more success for this highly recommended group. What began as another band on my desk has turned into a new fan for The Shrines.
Find out more about The Shrines on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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