Mikayla Mayhew

ALBUM REVIEW: BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT- NOT HERE NOT GONE

2026 has already been a strange year. The world may be falling apart but, the music keeps playing! So much so that the first great album of 2026 was released at the end of January. Blackwater Holylight’s new album, Not Here Not Gone, expands upon their already dark yet light contrasts and pushes the doomgaze genre into new worlds.

Throughout the ten tracks on the album, there is no shortage of great moments and new things to discover with each listen. Not Here Not Gone is as haunting as it is seductive and sonically bombastic. The way the band can weave an intricate web of shoegaze, doom metal and indie/folk is breathtaking. There is a calm to the heaviness on this album that keeps you coming back. The way the album glistens as it begins with “How Will You Feel” opens the window to what’s to come. From there “Involuntary Haze” ups the volume and shows off the heavy nature of the band. “Bodies” riffs out with a stellar explosion that captivates from the moment it starts. “Heavy, Why?” is quite the contemplative song that is filled with crisp sonics and soaring vocals. “Giraffe” is a bit of a departure but, it’s one of those interesting ones that acts as a bridge between parts of the album. TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek guests on this track. “Spades” returns to the heavy/gaze with more of a pulsating undertone. “Void To Be” feels like a sort of shoegazy prog rock track but with a dark pop sense. “Fade” is a delicate song that goes more cinematic as it builds. “Mourning After” is another soulful song that has a ton of ear candy to explore. Closing out the album is the epic “Poppyfields.” This is one of those songs that will stay with you long after you are done listening. In fact, it’s one of those that will make you want to put the album on again.

What Blackwater Holylight have made with Not Here Not Gone is triumphant. Sunny Faris, Eliese Dorsey and Mikayla Mayhew have cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Albums like this take quite a bit of time to make and when the end result is this powerful, it’s a statement record. Personally, I’m enthralled with what I heard on this album. I can only imagine the magnitude of volume that is their live show and these songs will definitely push the decibel levels of wherever they play. Seriously, put Not Here Not Gone on and just let it take you on it’s journey.

Overall Rating: A

By: Brian Lacy

Blackwater Holylight- Not Here Not Gone:

ANTICIPATED ALBUMS: BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT- NOT HERE NOT GONE

There is nothing better than starting off a new year with an album you are highly anticipating. And when said album comes out the first month of said new year, you can look at it as a precursor to great things to come. With that in mind take a few minutes to dig into these first three singles released from Blackwater Holylight’s upcoming new album, Not Here Not Gone, which arrives Friday January 30th via Suicide Squeeze Records. I’ve been thoroughly impressed by Blackwater Holylight for some time now. Their, If You Only Knew EP, was one of my favorite releases of 2025. As the table is set for Not Here Not Gone, and based off of “Heavy, Why?,” “Involuntary Haze,” and now “Bodies,” this new album is going to rock the socks off you. The delicate and etherial nature of the band mixed with the crushing riffs and pulsating rhythms, is sure to make this new offering from Blackwater Holylight one of the best releases of 2026. I’m very much looking forward to this album and the tour that will soon follow. Be sure to check this band out and let them know Brian from Audioeclectica sent you!

PRE-ORDER- NOT HERE NOT GONE

Heavy, Why?:

Involuntary Haze:

Bodies:

ANTICIPATED ALBUMS: BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT- NOT HERE NOT GONE

There’s something about the feeling that comes over you when you hear a band that strikes at the right time. It’s not that I haven’t listened to this band before but, the way their new music sparked a sense of “Yes! This is what I’m looking for and I wasn’t even looking.” With that in mind, Blackwater Holylight is the band I’m talking about and if you haven’t heard this fantastic band, you’ve been missing out. In 2026, January 30th to be exact, Blackwater Holylight will be releasing their new album, Not Here Not Gone (via Suicide Squeeze Records). Packed with a sound that is as much intoxicating as it is hypnotic is quite the treat. The elements of shoegaze, doom and metal mixed with the atmospheric/cinematic synths, underlying pulsing rhythms that feel like waves and vocals that soar and swoon, are exactly what I hear in Blackwater Holylight. The two songs released so far, “Heavy, Why?” and “Involuntary Haze” are whimsical and the perfect way to introduce what’s to come. A full US tour will be happening next year with two bands that have been featured on Audioeclectica, Glassing and SOM. The idea of SOM and Blackwater Holylight on the same bill is actually blowing my mind as I think and write this. Truly, I can’t wait for this new album to hit right out of 2026. Now, go check out Blackwater Holylight!

Heavy, Why?:

Involuntary Haze:


Pre-Order NOT HERE NOT GONE:

TOUR DATES:

Glassing supports 2/13-2/27. SOM supports 2/27-3/14.

Fri 2/13 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
Sat 2/14 – Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit
Sun 2/15 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
Tue 2/17 – Austin, TX – Radio/East
Wed 2/18 – Houston, TX – White Oak
Thu 2/19 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia
Fri 2/20 – Pensacola, FL – Handlebar
Sat 2/21 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
Sun 2/22 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Tue 2/24 – Charlottesville, VA – Southern Cafe
Wed 2/25 – Baltimore, MD – Metro
Thu 2/26 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Fri 2/27 – Brooklyn, NY – Meadows
Sat 2/28 – Braintree, MA – Widowmaker Brewing
Mon 3/02 – Youngstown, OH – Westside Bowl
Tue 3/03 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle
Wed 3/04 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village
Fri 3/06 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Sat 3/07 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
Sun 3/08 – Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High
Tue 3/10 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Wed 3/11 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Thu 3/12 – Sacramento, CA – Starlet
Fri 3/13 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel
Sat 3/14 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
Sat 3/21 – Los Angeles, CA – Pacific Electric