ANNIVERSARY: Stargazer by Moodring turns 4 today - Patreon exclusive B-Sides
Album artwork for Stargazer by Moodring
4 years ago today saw Moodring take its first steps into the modern metal scene with debut LP, “Stargazer”. This is a record that is still loved immensely by fans, replayed frequently to appreciate the incredible growth the entity have seen since its inception. While this record lays firmly in its shoegaze essence, it holds a certain ruggedness that makes a first release like this withstand the test of time, even with sound progressions and evolutions. Whether that’s testament to fans’ dedication, or simply how thoroughly enjoyable “Stargazer” is, it depends on who you ask.
What makes this record so charismatic, is how pungently creative it is, despite being immature in a sense. Not every artist can come out the gates and deliver immediate brilliance, but Moodring never needed to, as they have allowed room for growth over the years, and have since exploded into a industrial nu-metal force to be reckoned with. These achievements never would’ve been possible if the early releases were at the top of their game, and that’s yet another reason why “Stargazer” is so special to so many; it paved the way for a journey to complete resilience and authenticity.
Across the 11 tracks, there’s something for everyone, and usually that’s a cliché, but “Stargazer” truly provides something for all, regardless of musical preference. If you want to belt your lungs into disintegration, then Disintegrate (all puns intended), Constrict, SYNC.Wav, and more will provide the space to do so, if you want to imagine you’re in a music video, staring out the car window on a rainy day, then title track, Stargazer, Novocaine Bones, and Xeno (Foreign Love) have got you covered. We were undeniably spoiled with this record, and it’s fair to say that many hadn’t truly appreciated it’s impact on the scene, fans, and the band, until they revisited it in the wake of the most recent release, “Death Fetish”. To be able to go back to an album that’s 4 years old and see 4 years worth of sculpting, hard work, and passion, and it still retains a level of nostalgia, just confirms that “Stargazer” is relevant, and deserves its place when discussing Moodring.
In respect of the 4th anniversary, Moodring’s brain-child, Hunter Young, has graciously released a few B-Sides that never made the cut, either because they didn’t fit the theme, or simply because something better was created, and we as fans have the opportunity to hear these for the first time ever and appreciate “new” - if you even want to call them that - material to play on repeat. You can access “Stargazer” B-Sides, along with other Demos, Unreleased tracks, Acapella versions, Instrumentals, and Clips from other releases by purchasing a “BLACK-WAVE” or higher tier on the entity’s patreon here.
