From the rock Ruins crumbling like autumn leaves into the Easthampton notch to the cosmic energy beaming through the valley’s, uhh — greenery — Western Massachusetts flourishes in detail when it comes to nature vibes. Those really sink into the foreground of Gold Dust’s In the Shade of the Living Light. That exercise in enveloping one’s surroundings has intentional meaning on the third studio effort from the 413-based experimental folk rockers this time around as well. The band, which was once the transitional solo outlet from the DIY posts of hardcore and loud shoegaze screaming in white noise from former Ampere and Kindred guitarist Stephen Pierce, has officially evolved into the band form, collecting guitarist Ally Einbinder, formerly of Potty Mouth, drummer Adam Reid, also of Nanny, and the Van Pelt’s Sean Green on bass as its extra limbs growing out into this wilderness known as life.

Together, like stems of the same plant pushing from the roots upward, they bloom Pierce’s philosophical inquiries into finding light in the darkness while also acknowledging the dark in the light through a gentle shade of jangled indie rock with a crunchy hippie slant that stretches across the scenery (“Whatever’s Left”,) stares at hot balls of gas of sunburnt psychedelia (“Germs Burn”, “Last Call”,) and even sets sail into sea-shanty explorations (“Traveler’s Stay”, “Whatever’s Left Pt. II: A Cactus in New England”) to compliment the region’s mystic oceanside views. Like any good existential adventure, they’re met along the way by kindred spirits — Amherst guitar rock hero J Mascis rips an electric sitar on “An Early Translation of a Later Work”, Fred Thomas ruminates breaking light while Cornershop’s Anthony Saffery bangles a more organic sitar during the album’s moments of epiphany, and Pierce’s past ‘mates in Kindling’s Gretchen Williams and Ampere’s Meghan Minior alongside Josh Robbins are the echoes of his conscious quietly rumbling through — all as insects buzz, birds sing, and waves crash into Justin Pizzoferrato’s clear-as-day production. The path Gold Dust take here isn’t seeking an end destination, but rather a reminder to yourself to always seek out signs of life along the way that will help guide you through the dark. In their case, it’s the new phase of being they’re growing into together.

Highlights: “Whatever’s Left”, “Germs Burn”, “Whatever’s Left Pt. II: A Cactus in New England”

Gold Dust’s In the Shade of the Living Light is available now.

Buy | Stream