REZN at Gold Sounds

Photos and Writing by Kyle Ostrander

Sometimes you come across a band whose fans all unanimously agree the group is going to be huge one day. Doom metal act REZN are one of those bands. The group has been making a name for themselves over recent years, coming through NYC for several headline shows, as well as tours supporting acts such as Russian Circles, Pallbearer, and Elder. As part of their current North American tour, REZN stopped by Gold Sounds in NYC on Friday night to deliver an impressive show.

The room at Gold Sounds was packed with fans all the way from the stage to the back doors of the venue. “I saw these guys the last time they came through. They were SO GOOD I knew I couldn’t miss the show tonight!” said a fan before the show. REZN, who are known for the soul-vibrating sonic barrage of distorted melody at their live shows, delivered above and beyond the already high expectations. After a backing track played their intro song “Clear II”, their set went head-first into the crushing sounds of “Indigo”, before moving right into the cinematic opening riff of “Reversal”. The crowd immediately began to headbang and sway to the music, shouting cheers of excitement between songs. “Thank you all so much for coming out tonight! It really means a lot to us. We’re REZN from Chicago, and we have a lot more songs for you” said guitarist/vocalist Rob McWilliams as the quartet started their spacey synth intro of “Instinct”. The full set contained cuts from across almost all of the band’s albums.

One of the trademarks of REZN’s sound are all the distinct tones and instrumentation layered together in a sound that’s in a lane of its own. The metal necks of the guitars and bassess used by the group augment the crunchy, deep distortion running through their amps. Pounding drums propel tracks forward as soaring vocals glide effortlessly above. Touches of saxophone woven through the mix add an extra layer of distinct depth to the already striking sound. “More sax! More sax! More sax!” chanted the audience after the prominent saxophone feature on “Waves of Sand”. If the crowd’s reaction was any indication, NYC is more than ready for another dose of REZN whenever they come back through.

REZN’s North American tour continues through early May, before the band heads overseas in July and August for even more shows. Their full list of tour dates can be found on their website.

Setlist: