GLEAM ARRIVE LOUD WITH DEBUT EP THAT CUTS THROUGH THE NOISE

EP REVIEW | GLEAM – Gleam by Hannah Lindsay

Emerging from Scotland’s indie underground, GLEAM are part of a new wave of Scottish bands leaning into rawness over polish. Still early in their career, they sound like a band already impatient with convention. Bringing their first official release since forming in 2023, their sound pivots right between tight, driving rhythms and bursts of distortion-heavy chaos. Featuring three tracks, this EP gives a sense of frustration running throughout and the lyrics propel forth some hard ideas. It captures that feeling of trying to break out of something without quite knowing how.

The band, made up of Lucas Murrary (vocals/guitar), Kellin McAdam (bass/vocals), and Andrew Connelly (drums/vocals), can be noted as part of a new generation of young Scottish indie/alt bands coming out of Glasgow’s DIY scene. The EP, produced in collaboration with producers Shuggy McKay and Christopher Johnston, opens with ‘Mumble Jumble’ which wastes no time jumping in with treble-heavy guitar tones and hard-hitting crash symbols. Guitars rarely sit still, shifting from jagged riffs to walls of fuzz. It’s a sound clearly built for live venues, it’s close, loud, and energetic!

While their music is raw and unpolished, the cover art is strikingly stylised, creating an interesting tension between sound and image. Striped suits, bold patterns, and exaggerated posing give the cover a proper art-rock feel. Just like the tracks of the EP, the art gives a sense of controlled chaos!

This EP is definitetly a starting point more than a finished statement, GLEAM are just getting started. Their sound feels built for the live circuit, where it’s likely to gain most traction. So what’s next for the band? Through their Instagram they have actively been teasing a CD/vinyl release, more live sessions, and a full album release to follow. If this EP is any indication, GLEAM are only at the beginning of figuring out how far they can push their sound. So jump in and give it a listen here!