Having quickly established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting new psych-shoegaze artist, First Class Rebel nears the release of his debut EP, coming June 12th.
Entitled Leave Your Thoughts Behind, the EP blends the haze of shoegaze with elements of psych rock, resulting with a immersive sound built on melodic swells, crashing waves of distortion and guitar-driven intensity. Led by Ian Burke, the one man force juggles song writing, guitars, vocals and base to create what has become “First Class Rebel”. Leave Your Thoughts Behind brings together previous singles ‘Shadows Fade’, ‘Alive’ and ‘Control’ alongside two previously unreleased tracks, including captivating focus track ‘Eleven Eleven’.
Surging with restless energy and layered guitars, ‘Eleven Eleven’ opens with heavily reverbed, swirling guitar notes before igniting into crashing chords and searing lead lines. Built on rhythm, distortion and mounting tension, the track drives forward with relentless energy, balancing shoegaze atmosphere with the raw propulsion of psych rock.
Lyrically, “Eleven Eleven” captures the breaking point that follows repeated disappointment, the moment clarity emerges through the chaos and walking away becomes the only way forward. Beneath its wall of sound lies a feeling of defiance and release, transforming frustration into something liberating. The result is a visceral collision of noise, melody, and emotional release. Driven by assertive lyrics throughout, the track is topped off by a timeless outro that further expands the sonic world of First Class Rebel’s debut EP, Leave Your Thoughts Behind.
Following national airplay on RTÉ 2FM’s The Alternative with Dan Hegarty, Track of the Week recognition from SPIN South West for ‘Control’, and a growing live presence including a Record Store Day performance, Leave Your Thoughts Behind marks a major step forward for First Class Rebel. More than a collection of singles, Leave Your Thoughts Behind feels like a defining statement and the sound of an artist fully stepping into his identity.
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