Peterborough’s BASHIRA Make Their Mark With Cinematic Alt Metal Debut "Alight"

Peterborough based BASHIRA [photo: Bashira]

Described as brooding and cinematic, BASHIRA are fresh onto Peterborough's music scene. Debut single "Alight" sees the band make a great first impression, delivering an expertly crafted blend of alt metal and cinematic post rock.

The opening riff is equal parts groovy and technical, almost progressive in its not-quite-standard sounding rhythm. Catchy and melodic, it piques the ear and pulls you in.

Lyric video for "Alight" [cred. Bashira]

The vocals are soft, effortlessly floating above the instrumentation. There are moments where angst is teased, but it never goes the whole way, instead maintaining a soft, almost sombre edge. Everything is blended well, resulting in a well-rounded, cinematic sound.

This is especially evident when the verses swell, exploding with the chorus. It's a release of emotions for not just the band but the listener as well.

Throughout "Alight", great care is taken with regards to the atmosphere, the band utilising texture and dynamics creatively to create a compelling piece of music. A bridge/breakdown section towards the end shows signs of more conventional rock techniques, but the band really excel when they let the atmospherics shine - a simple clean section here, decorative layers of lead guitar there.

"Alight" is out now [photo: Bashira]

This is a strong debut release, and sees Bashira solidify themselves as a serious contender for your attention straight out the gate. I look forward to what they do next.

"Alight" is out NOW on streaming services