First time at BA
Chicago-based REZN merges intense sonic weight with a cosmic sense of openness, crafting a sound that’s as massive as it is meditative. Formed when guitarist Rob McWilliams and bassist Phil Cangelosi started jamming at age twelve, the band took its shape after moving to Chicago in 2015, joined by drummer Patrick Dunn and multi-instrumentalist Spencer Ouellette. Their debut album, Let It Burn, set the stage with heavy, texture-rich riffs and synths. Their sound expanded further on Calm Black Water (2018) with saxophone layers, and again on Chaotic Divine (2020), pushing psychedelic and atmospheric boundaries with remarkable instrumental synergy.
Their latest album, Solace, is a bold exploration into more nuanced, introspective spaces. Incorporating piano, flute, and acoustic guitar, the record plays with dynamic contrast, building from delicate soundscapes to powerful, maximalist walls of sound. The band’s immersive studio experience was key to the creative process, with relentless sessions opening new musical territories. The result is an expansive journey that defies strict genre classification, rooted in REZN’s distinctive psych-doom aesthetic yet aiming far beyond.
