The Nothing - The Great Dismal

The Great Dismal by Nothing is a dense, immersive wall of sound that wraps you in beauty, despair, and distortion - often all at once. Released in 2020, this shoegaze-meets-post-metal masterpiece dives headfirst into themes of isolation, environmental decay, and existential angst, with a lushness that’s as devastating as it is addictive.

Opening with the heavy-lidded haze of “A Fabricated Life,” the album sets a somber, cinematic tone. Tracks like “Say Less” and “April Ha Ha” push dream-pop textures into darker, heavier territories, blending gauzy guitars with crushing riffs and nihilistic lyrics. Then there’s “Catch a Fade” and “Bernie Sanders,” where Nothing flexes their post-punk edge, lacing melancholy melodies with raw emotion and sneering introspection.

Despite the bleak title, The Great Dismal is far from lifeless. It pulses with detail—crystalline production, sweeping dynamics, and a perfect balance of melody and noise. Frontman Domenic Palermo’s vocals float ghostlike above the fray, often buried just enough to feel like they’re slipping through your fingers.

This is a record that rewards deep listening, preferably at high volume and low light. Whether you’re a shoegaze purist, a doom-gazer convert, or just in need of a gorgeous soundtrack to your existential spiral, The Great Dismal delivers in spades.