'MUFFLER' EP - SMELTER

2022- "...they've done an excellent job capturing and solidifying their distinguished sound on and off stage. Between the perfectly suspended vocals, uptempo beat, reverberated tone and breakaway guitar riffs- there's no denying what these guys are putting down."

FULL REVIEW BELOW.

IMAGE COURTESY OF @SMELTERFL VIA INSTAGRAM - SMELTER, MUFFLER EP 2021

June 2022.

Last month was an exciting time for me.

I managed to attend live shows for the first time in over two years (given the state of the world, and my personal health, amid the pandemic.) When I managed to make it to Gainesville to see headliners, Torche, we were met with South Florida hard-rocking, shoe gazers, Smelter, as one of two openers.

I felt like my head was on a swivel when I heard them start playing. Eyes fully affixed on the group as they pumped out song after song. After a few tunes, I leaned to my friend and yelled "damn, they're really good!" I always get excited when a band snags my attention in a live setting. I mean, I'm sure all of us at one point or another have said something to the effect of "they (insert band here) are so good live, you have to see them." Like a rite of passage almost. When studio albums are great, but the live is just as good- sometimes even better.

In the case of Smelter, both sentiments ring true. They are both captivating via studio EP Muffler and in their live presence on stage. I mean, they really can't help but grab your full attention.

2021, 4-track EP release Muffler puts Smelter on grand display. I've listened to this EP almost non-stop since their May 6th performance at Gainesville venue, Loosey's. There are so many hints of influence in these tracks. Anywhere from Deftones to Sonic Youth. More upbeat tracks such as Swell give bits and pieces of Dinosaur Jr. and/or Smashing Pumpkins and Catherine Wheel throughout the instrumentals. Then there's the more shoe-gaze tune, Muffler, that carry's a blissful reverberated rhythm throughout. Hard but soft. Grungy but airy. A harmonious dichotomy that swirls and floats throughout the entire 3:59 tune.

I think one of the things they've managed to nail is the cohesion of tone and balance both in the EP tracks and their live set. It's a wonderful thing to experience and they've done an excellent job capturing and solidifying their distinguished sound on and off stage. Between the perfectly suspended vocals, uptempo beat, reverberated tone and breakaway guitar riffs- there's no denying what these guys are putting down.

Call them alt-rock. Call it shoe gaze. Call it post-grunge. Smelter has been one of my greatest alternative rock finds in a long, long time. I look forward for what's to come for this talented South Florida five-piece.

Check out Smelter EP Muffler on Spotify and other available streaming services. Be sure to head over to Instgram @smelterfl for all the latest Smelter happenings in music, tour and more.

Smelter, Muffler EP 2021

1- Swell

2- Supermarket Fit

3- Muffler

4- Centrifuge

SMELTER

IMAGE PROPERTY OF @ZACKROGERSX COURTESY OF @SMELTERFL VIA INSTAGRAM, 2021