Only 4 songs; 3 originals and a cover, but The White Swan make them count.
Mercedes Lander is the impossible-to-ignore drummer and co-founder of the 90s-primarily-female institution, Kittie. She’s many leaderly things for Kittie, but here on her White Swan, she steps into the lead vocalist role.
And kills it.
Absolutely kills it.

There are many things to love about the “Nocturnal Transmissions” EP, but her singing voice is what elevates this as a must-hear. Who’d have known? Unlike Kittie, The White Swan doesn’t bring any growling vocals, just Lander’s high, clarion clear, clean valkyrie attack.
The songs are extremely simply-written, often just alternating between two chords at mid to slow tempos. There are shades of Silverchair, Veruca Salt, Helmet, and of course, Kittie, in the mix, but this is a lot Grungier, Doomier, Sludgier, and Groovier than any of the above. It’s not the riffs that make the songs winners, it’s the voice and the stellar, eerie “Shoegaze with power” vocal melodies. Doomgaze? Sure, call it that.
“Tell it to the Sky” is a cover of an old Tracy “EvERYTHinG’s FINE!!!!!” Bonham song (she was best-known for her hit, “Mother, Mother”), but it’s probably the one that will stick in your head the most. All 3 of the originals really work, truly, and they all work well together as a set of 4. “Purple” is pretty amazing by itself, but it’s especially great as a slower change of pace, following the murderous rhythm section pummel of “In Love and Ritual” and the EP’s namesake, “Nocturnal Transmission.”
I can’t speak for hardcore Kittie fans, but I want more of this from Mercedes Lander. I hope it’s not a flukey one-off side project.