Album Review: guttered - tracing a silhouette

It is impressive to see a band as young as guttered - composed of Ali Rizvi (guitars), Domingo Rodriguez (bass), Khoa Nguyen (vocals and guitar), and Luis Rodríguez (drums), all 18–19 — emerge with such a strong identity. Their debut EP, tracing a silhouette, a five-track record self-released on January 10th, 2026, is a bold entry into the shoegaze landscape.

Before the band existed, one member was arguably that “annoying kid” at the front of the stage, arriving at venues eight hours early just to glimpse a pedalboard or quiz artists on mixing technicalities. This dedication seems to have paid off. Despite their youth, they don’t come across as a band searching for their sound — they sound confident and assured.

While much of the current shoegaze scene leans into gritty, abrasive, and hardcore-adjacent territory, guttered carves out a different space. They opt for a sound that is loud and punchy yet dreamy, favoring romantic atmospheres over gloom or anger.

With hazy, lush guitars and the reverb-soaked vocals of Khoa Nguyen, Tracing a Silhouette feels like a love letter sent directly to Whirr, but with its own added flair. It captures a similar essence — a mood you can lose yourself in, shaped by melancholy and longing.

In a word: this album is great.

I’m excited to see what’s next for them.