In Athens hail from the rugged meeting point of Connemara, Galway, Ireland and the wild Atlantic. Their music is a powerful blend of fuzz-drenched post-gaze nostalgia and razor-sharp modern post-punk energy, creating an evocative soundscape that reflects the majestic beauty, raw power and shimmering tranquillity of their surroundings.
“We chose the name In Athens because it felt like an answer with weight. It references a place where art, philosophy, music, and storytelling became formalized—where culture became something shared. But we’re far away, surrounded by sea, silence, and storm.
“That tension between imagined legacy and lived reality is part of our sound. It’s displacement – intentional, emotional, geographic. We’re shaped by where we live. The Atlantic isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a presence. It doesn’t ask for your attention, it demands it. There’s a kind of humbling chaos in that, and it finds its way into everything we do, one way or the other.”
“You can’t live beside that kind of raw energy and come away clean. We wanted things to sound as elemental as possible where viscous shimmers, haunted echoing reverbs and thundering drums reflect the majesty of these surroundings. The environment is constantly shifting here, and we really wanted to lean into that and hear what that would sound like”
Drawing on the untamed spirit of the Atlantic, In Athens channel this force into their debut EP, Mirrorism. Recorded and produced at Darklands Audio Dublin by Dan Doherty (Fontaines DC, Hope Sandoval), the EP features expansive, intimate guitars and hazy, 90s-inspired vocals that linger long after the last note. Their sound is both contemporary and timeless—immediately vital yet carefully considered.
“There’s nostalgia in what we do, for sure—90s alternative tones, a bit of shoegaze sprinkle here and there—but it’s not about looking back. We’re interested in contrast. Warmth and detachment. Collapse and control. We like when things sound familiar but feel slightly off, like you’re hearing a dream from another room. The production on Mirrorism was all about restraint.
“Dan [Doherty] helped us find space in which to exist. The guitars are big, but not overblown. The vocals are close, but still ghost-like. We’re big fans of that emotional tension—of being inside something and far removed from it at the same time.”
‘Tides’ is the second single from the ‘Mirrorism’ EP.
Having shared stages with such vital acts as Cherym (UK), ARXX (UK), signcrushesmotorist (IRL), Virgins (NI), Winona Bleach (NI) and Sun Mahshene (IRL) the band have worked tirelessly on their live show and eventually signed with Blowtorch Records in May 2025, a West Coast label which works to promote artists primarily in the shoegaze/post-punk scene. Both the band and label are delighted to offer the Mirrorism EP on 12 inch vinyl due for release late October 2025.
“Blowtorch just got us. They’re local, DIY, and fiercely into what they do. We didn’t want a label that would polish the rough edges—we wanted one that understood why they were there in the first place.”
“Vinyl just felt right for this release, It’s physical, imperfect and it forces you to be present with it and we’re lucky enough to have found a label that agrees!”
Instagram: @inathensband