Ibliss Trade Doom For Soul With Self-Titled Track ‘IBLISS’

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After years of pure demonic stoner doom, fuzz-saturated riffs, and a sound seemingly intent on flattening everything in its path, local legends Ibliss are taking an unexpected detour with ‘IBLISS’.

An eight-minute slow-burner, the self-titled track trades some of that familiar distortion for soulful instrumentation, classic rock sensibilities, and a groove that feels considerably less interested in knocking the listener’s teeth out.

For a band so closely associated with the heavier end of the spectrum, the restraint is striking. ‘IBLISS’ doesn’t rush to make itself heard through sheer volume or a wall of fuzz. Instead, the arrangement takes its time, allowing the instruments to settle into the music without constantly competing for attention.

There’s a looseness to the performance that works in its favour, as though the band are content to see where the song takes them rather than drag it towards some grand, predetermined climax.

Image via @lensaleleng

Much of this change in character comes courtesy of Mior, Ibliss’ newest addition, whose saxophone work lends the track an unexpected soulful streak. Mior also serves as the lyricist for this piece, lending it its warm, expressive phrasing that sits comfortably alongside the song’s classic rock leanings.

Crucially, the saxophone never feels like a novelty act booked to simply spice things up. It’s woven into the arrangement itself, becoming an essential part of what makes ‘IBLISS’ sound like ‘IBLISS’. It is as haunting as it is sensual.

Image via @lensaleleng

That said, the band haven’t completely strayed from fuzz and distortion.

The appeal lies in how their familiar darkness gradually finds its way back into the song, with the heavier textures carrying more weight after spending time away from the foreground.

The contrast gives the arrangement a sense of movement without making the softer passages feel like an elaborate setup for the inevitable return to doom. Ibliss haven’t abandoned their heaviness so much as stopped treating it as the only instrument in the room.

At eight minutes, ‘IBLISS’ asks the listener to be patient, but the runtime feels more earned than indulgent.

The slower pacing gives each instrumental layer room to develop, while the shifts between soulful passages and the band’s underlying grit keep the arrangement from becoming static.

Where Ibliss have typically relied on density to establish tension, here they find it in the space between sounds. First performed live at SoundCircus earlier this year, ‘IBLISS’ now arrives on streaming platforms as a document of this less familiar side of the band.

Whether it signals a broader shift in Ibliss’ musical direction remains to be heard. For now, the track makes a convincing case for the merits of restraint, proving that a band steeped in arguably the most demonic of stoner doom can venture into softer territory without losing its teeth.

Stream ‘IBLISS’ on Spotify now.

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