Kansas City’s Shiner made a name for themselves in the 90s and early 2000s through a mixture of post hardcore and alternative rock that explored similar ground as bands like Quicksand, Hum, and Failure but had plenty of unique flairs. Earlier efforts had a bit more of that post hardcore and noise rock laden intensity, which ultimately gave way to softer textures and spacey atmosphere as time went on, but there was also a technical edge to the performances that set Shiner apart. Following 2001’s The Egg the group went their separate ways, but like many from the same timeframe they have returned with brand new music that builds upon their first run of material. 2020’s Schadenfreude was the first taste of what this current incarnation of Shiner has to offer, and five years later BELIEVEYOUME showcases this was more than a one-off. Compared to its predecessor, BELIEVEYOUME is a bit heavier and faster paced, but there are plenty of smaller details waiting to be discovered with each time through.
“Asleep in the Trunk” kicks things off with a more streamlined sound, as the thick bassline opens into a booming chorus that lets the guitars soar outwards. It gives off an earlier Queens of the Stone Age vibe, straddling that line between alternative rock and hard rock with equal amounts of muscular instrumentation and layered melodies. “The Alligator” immediately flips the script with a more introspective tone and spacey melodies that move at a slower pace, falling somewhere between Failure and Shiner’s sprawling songs from their discography. As you get further into BELIEVEYOUME, it starts to feel like Shiner has tapped into a bit of everything from their prior work and explored it further. Tracks like “So Far So” have more of that jagged noise rock sound with choruses that still bring in quite a bit of atmosphere, while “Broken Satellites” has more of a slowcore/post rock progression. It’s this combination of big, soaring hooks and intricate details that continued to draw me back to the album, as the choruses have that immediate wow factor but many of these songs are not as straightforward as they might initially appear. Compared to Schadenfreude the production is quite a bit beefier, sometimes reminding me of the almost metallic edge Hum’s Inlet had. This proves to be both a positive and negative, as it feels like the bass sometimes overwhelms some of the finer details. I did find some of the more spacey numbers like “My Mirror Hates Me” stood out more than some of the more muscular rock/post hardcore leaning tracks, but BELIEVEYOUME remains consistent from beginning to end and before I knew it I had hit the repeat button four to five times in one sitting.
Allen Epley’s performance is quite varied, as his voice is a bit gruffer on “Asleep in the Trunk” but heads into much softer territory on songs like “Endless Summer”. Like the instrumentation, there are moments where the vocals take a more direct approach and come through with quite a bit of power alongside more introspective and subdued ones that have an airier tone. You’ve also got some incredible harmonies on “Lazarus” that really enhance the overall atmosphere, as they add a warmness to the material that pairs well with the heavier, jagged edges of the rest of the band. Compared to Schadenfreude it feels like Epley’s gone for some different approaches on this album, and this continues to help Shiner’s music transform and grow even this many years into their career.
Compared to Quicksand or Hum, Shiner never seemed to get the same nationwide level of attention but they’ve maintained a dedicated following over the years. BELIEVEYOUME seems like it could easily usher in a new generation of fans, as it has a great balance of heavier instrumentation and spacey, warm melodies that will instantly draw people in. It feels like it’s pulling in a bit of each era of the band’s discography while adding in new textures, and as a result I’ve found myself drawn back again and again. There are some aspects to the production that I’m not crazy about, but as a whole this is a strong showing from this veteran band that fans of everything alternative/space rock adjacent will want to spend time with. BELIEVEYOUME is available from Spartan Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg