Chrome Lakes Delivers A Massive EP

BuzzSlayers
Nov 1
6 min read

The new EP release from Chrome Lakes crosses lines and boundaries between what many would consider to be post hardcore, post-rock, alternative rock, hints of progressive, and for me, they nail this sort of underground '90s heavy rock vibe so incredibly well that it gives me bouts of nostalgia at different parts of the record.

They don't waste a lot of time getting straight to the point with the first track, "A Spear To Bear", which has a great way of sort of introducing the album as well. This showcases some of the great Staples that the EP will boast, but without going over the top.

First of all, you have great time signatures coming from the drummer. He is a massive performer on this record, and really crushes the job of pushing things forward and making things unique as well.

He's not just sitting in the pocket. He comes up with great timing and gives an incredible liveliness to the whole record that I feel like a lot of the rest of the band feeds off of.

This track, to me, is more of the post-rock style with great guitar tone and a unique way of coming through edgy, but again, not really over the top. The guitars aren't super distorted. If they have a heaviness to them and they thrash in a sense, but they're not pumped full of metal distortion or anything crazy.

I feel like this band pays a lot of attention to the tones of their instruments, and the guitar is a huge part of that.

Great progressions and chords along with this outstanding section towards the middle of the track, where it breaks into a halftime section, and there's a lead guitar part that comes in, but it's more melodic and has this bit of delay effect.

All in all, the song kills it. It's heavy, fun, it combines color and edginess super well, and the vocals are right in your face the whole time.

There's something about how the vocals are performed throughout this whole release that makes songs feel sort of anthemic.

"Hollowed Ground" follows that song, and this opens up more of a different tone. The Distortion is a bit heavier on this one, it feels like, and you can hear more grungy elements coming through. Again, some great time signatures are coming from the drummer and the guitars just sort of coat that in this unforgettable sonic presence. The guitars, especially on this track, create a big wall of sound, and I absolutely fell right for that.

You can hear some of the more indie rock, '90s influences that I mentioned earlier on this track, for sure. I'm definitely hearing Pixies on there, for example. But it's not just about that; these guys bring a slew of influences into each individual song, and that's part of why I do get a little bit nostalgic when I listen to this record.

They happen to capture that aesthetic incredibly well, in my opinion. They do it with the bass guitar, the guitar progressions and performances, the drumming, and the vocals. Everyone involved captures this great aesthetic that makes me feel like I'm listening to a band as a kid again. Growing up in the 90s and hearing bands that I hadn't heard before finding them on LimeWire or Napster.

Going to the store because I heard a song on an underground radio station and went to buy the full record. Going home and listening to the full album, even though I only got it for one song, and being blown away. This is one of those EPs.

The third track is called "In Trust", and I love this one because it presents a totally different vibe.

This track has a much more spacious and ambient sort of atmosphere that it delivers. The guitars are single notes most of the time instead of thrashing chords, and they have great effects on them so that they feel distanced, and it gives the song different layers of depth.

You also get a unique and somewhat different approach vocally here, too. The singer comes through a little bit softer because he's able to on this track, and that gives him a different vibrato and feel tonally.

Don't get me wrong, there are pretty explosive sections on this track as well, but they don't do it in the same way they do on other songs.

They stick to this more fluent, almost dreamlike vibe, and I absolutely got sucked in and engulfed by this track.

The final track on the record is called "Give Us Your Money", which was a banger of a song, and this one feels more theatrical.

Some really inventive and slightly experimental, outside-the-box style songwriting, and all in all, it feels like you're watching some sort of act of a play.

So, these guys blend all these different attributes and approaches into one four-track record, which is still a lot to soak in.

The whole thing is under 20 minutes, which is crazy to me because the songs feel longer and bigger than they are.

This was a very memorable heavy rock record that was built in a way that has fewer boundaries than what you may be used to.

I would definitely check this out because it's super worth it.

The EP is called Visionist, and after listening to this release, I had to talk with the band to find out where it actually came from, so why you listen to this, read through our interview with the band below so you can find out more about how it all came to be what it is today.

Remember where you heard this first.

Let’s talk about Visionist! This has elements of 90’s grunge and heavy rock with garage and punk undertones. Where did this EP come from?

Chrome Lakes: Visionist was born out of the idea of writing more dynamic, melodic songs with a minimalist approach. Seattle has bred some amazing songwriters, and that influence always finds its way into our music.

I’m hearing a few different approaches on this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Chrome Lakes: Being a band from Washington, we’ve all been shaped by the sounds of Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. As we got older, bands like Waxwing, Botch, and These Arms Are Snakes came onto the scene and made a huge impact. We all have different musical tastes, but we’re always sharing music with each other and going to shows that one of us recommends. Even if we’re unfamiliar with an artist at first, we usually walk away fans.

Did you record this at home, or in a studio?

Chrome Lakes: We recorded this record at Ex Ex Audio in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. We’d worked previously with an amazing engineer, Derek Moree (look him up!), but when Ex Ex became available, we decided to work with studio owner Robert Cheek. He’s made some incredible records, and we were excited to collaborate with him and get a different perspective on our music.

Do you guys write songs together, or are there a few main songwriters who bring ideas to the rest?

Chrome Lakes: Everyone brings ideas to the table, but the guitarists usually start things off with riffs. Not every idea is fully fleshed out, and that’s what makes our rhythm section so special—they make sense of what we bring in and help shape and arrange the songs.

How did this all start for you as a band?

Chrome Lakes: Phil and Chad met in 2010 while playing in other bands around the Seattle area and quickly found a musical connection. They started Chrome Lakes in 2013 and just kept writing. We’ve had a few different members over the years, but this current lineup has been solid for quite a while.

Are you performing live right now?

Chrome Lakes: Yeah! We play around Seattle regularly, but we also try to get out regionally when the opportunity allows. Our next shows are in January and February 2026, both in Seattle.

Now that Visionist is out, what’s next for Chrome Lakes?

Chrome Lakes: We’re working on another batch of songs for a companion EP called Revisionist. Once that’s wrapped up, we’re planning to make a hardcore skate punk record. We’re all fans of fast, heavy music and want to bring more of that energy into our sound.

Who’s in your headphones right now?

Chrome Lakes:

The Casket Lottery – Feel the Teeth
Pile – Sunshine and Balance Beams
Turnstile – Never Enough
Shiner – Believe You Me
UNKLE – U.N.K.L.E. Main Title Theme
Apres Moi, Le Deluge – Funeral Riot

What can listeners expect from this release?

Chrome Lakes: A big glob of emo mixed with a side of grunge and a dollop of early-aughts garage rock. Visionist has been out for a few weeks now, but we hope people keep discovering it and find something in it that connects to the music that shaped their own tastes.

Before we go, what would you like to say to your fans?

Chrome Lakes:“Rock and roll will never die.” – Chrome Lakes“These go to 11.” – Spinal Tap“If it’s illegal to rock and roll, throw my ass in jail!” – Kurt Cobain“Rock ’n’ roll might not solve your problems, but it does let you dance over them.” – Pete Townshend