The Trusted – Iridescence (2025)
I hate to admit it, but there are bands that, as much as you enjoy their music, tend to fall by the wayside. On the other hand, some bands stick in your brain, unknowingly demand attention, and you’re super-eager to hear everything they have to offer – enter The Trusted. For some time, our team has followed the UK-based foursome with that super-eager-ness I mentioned. Today, we are happy to announce The Trusted’s new five-track EP, Iridescence.
Opening with ‘The Lightning’, we begin with a languid rush of indie-pop – serene, sincere and soft; however, as much as there is a calm soothing to the track, the melody is a bold declaration of empowerment with music pushing you to the highest heights feeling like, “yeah, I got this!”
On the heels of ‘The Lightning’, ‘Overdrive (Switch Off)’ drags us to the time of Peter Gabriel in vintage indie-pop (if we have to label things). Weaving shimmering synths with bubbling guitars and a hazy layer of Tom Cunningham’s vocals, we’re swimming in a shiny sonic lake, lapping up the soul-stirring fairy dust. Considering this is a song tackling over-stimulation, the soundscape seems quite apt.
Hitting the mid-way point, ‘Self Destruct’ roars in with an uncharacteristic punk-driven vibe. Rambunctious, rebellious, chaotic and pure punk-tilted urgency, ‘Self Destruct’ tosses you from pillar to post with mosh-pit effect; a swift kick from the luxurious tracks ‘The Lightning’ and ‘Overdrive (Switch Off)’. Then it’s time to step down again…
Ending with ‘Miracle Face’ and ‘Iridescence’, the lads slip into a pop-driven sound rich in kaleidoscopic synths, pulsating drumbeats, and falsetto vocals; as with ‘Self Destruct’, ‘Miracle Face’ highlights another facet of The Trusted’s personality. Continuing on a shimmering, glittering, pop sound in ‘Iridescence’, The Trusted lead out in silvery musical thread in its electronic meets “wow, that’s refreshing” indie flair.
Melodically, Iridescence is a rollercoaster ride that celebrates life’s positivity, hopeful optimism, empowering brightness and pure, passionate joy, but there is simultaneously a tackling tragedy, darkness, conflict and tumultuous desperation. Oscillating between the mire of despair and the light at the end of the tunnel, The Trusted lays bare in all its brutal honesty, an emotional journey and evolution for us to experience.
Overall, what do I think of Iridescence? The Trusted is a band that has a distinctive identity yet is constantly evolving. Continuous growth showcasing innovation, originality, and the authenticity of passionate artists. With the new EP, the lads take us on a journey of evolution, allowing us to enjoy each new step, experience each new thought, and travel along with each new endeavour. Given their continuous experimental nature, I believe, and say this tentatively, the best is yet to come.
Find out more about The Trusted on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more indie-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Indie Pop playlist:
