GEL – “Mirage”

Photo by Alexis Gross

Nothing has changed with GEL in their ethos despite having a Hell of a breakthrough last year with their debut full-length and one of the year’s top albums overall, Only Constant. Their energy is still full of righteous rage and fighting for every scrap of equality in an upside-down society even if it brings them within in inch of their own lives. They’re playing bigger stages these days, though, and now they’ve made the hop from the excellent DIY hardcore label, Convulse Records, to Blue Grape Music and its burgeoning roster being assembled by former Roadrunner Records heads, now making them labelmates to scene heavy-hitters Code Orange and Spiritual Cramp. “Mirage”, their first single for the label and a premonition off their upcoming EP, Persona, makes a new kind of statement even though the Jersey rippers aren’t changing who they are. For starters, this one clocks in at almost three minutes in length — a switch-up from the usual minute-long pit banger — and they’re filling in the brick outlines mounting in every second with heavier material. Riffs are crippling and breakdowns are set to a steady pulverization while Sami Kaiser and the guitar equally shred solo in their own respective instrument. When all is said and done, the Devil is in the detail: GEL are flexing on how to build a bold-faced song and screaming it out loud.

Directed by: Eric Richter

GEL’s Persona will be released August 16th on Blue Grape Music.