Tragic Figures "Open Sores"

After nearly three years of silence, Chicago’s Tragic Figures reemerge with IV, a release that solidifies their place in the shadowy borderland between post-punk and shoegaze. Comprised of members from Sleepwalk, Astrobrite, and Muted Color, the group channels the urgency of early post-punk while building towering soundscapes that recall the heaviest edges of shoegaze.

On IV, guitars swell into vast, crushing layers that serve as both weapon and shield, pushing against the darkness conjured by the band’s commanding, Eldritch-inspired vocals. The result is a sound that feels simultaneously monolithic and fragile—an atmosphere where melody and menace intertwine seamlessly. Each track stands as a testament to their ability to distill gloom into something cathartic, textured, and deeply immersive.

More than just a return, IV represents a bold expansion of Tragic Figures’ vision. By fusing stark post-punk minimalism with shoegaze’s enveloping intensity, the band crafts a release that feels at once haunted by the past and urgently present. It’s a statement piece from a band unafraid to dwell in darkness, emerging stronger and louder from the silence.