Tennis System’s 2018 P A I N EP is great Shoegaze; it’s a beautifully served ace that should pull in devotees from the Metal and the Alternative sides of the net. There are only six songs in the EP, but these six pack enough depth, emotion, and richness to fill a full-length album.

There’s so much here to recall legendary genre pioneers, Swervedriver - - especially their brilliant “Raise” record - - from the heavy, raucous drums to the effects-drenched guitars to the subdued vocals to the drone vibe. Tennis System also recall some Chapterhouse, My Bloody Valentine, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, and - - slightly - - Asobi Seksu.
In addition to the Heavy, expansive, Metallic Shoegaze of “lackluster” and “lie,”(sic - - they don’t capitalize the song titles) they also do catchy, Hard post-New Wave Rock really well. Tracks 3 and 4, “everybody” and “clearer” (sic), manage to be a little more danceable and poppy, while maintaining the band’s harder edge.
Let go and trust-fall into Tennis System. This music will keep you afloat.