Review: High.'s Come Back Down
New Jersey’s High. deliver a fresh take on shoegaze with Come Back Down, blending heavy riffs, dreamy melodies, and raw emotion. Their latest EP is out now via Kanine Records.
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1/29/20252 min read
Alright, let’s talk about Come Back Down, the new EP from New Jersey’s High. If you’ve been following them, you know they’ve been grinding, playing everywhere, and putting out music that hits that sweet spot between heavy and heart-wrenching. This one is no different—except it’s bigger, louder, and packed with even more feeling.
This is their second EP, out now on Kanine Records, and it’s got four new songs plus their first EP Bomber on the B-side, which means it’s basically a full album disguised as an EP. And honestly, it sounds like a band that’s really figured themselves out. The riffs hit harder, the emotions run deeper, and the whole thing feels like it was made for late-night drives or screaming into a pillow.
It kicks off with “In A Hole,” which immediately throws you into the deep end with a big, crashing rhythm and that feeling like you’re falling but kind of okay with it. “Catcher” keeps the energy up but adds some extra melancholy, like it’s chasing something just out of reach. Then there’s “George,” which feels like a hazy daydream before “Flowers” comes in and completely wrecks you in the best way possible.
The B-side starts with “Dead,” which is an instant gut punch, followed by “Painbox,” a song that sounds exactly like its name in the best way. “Lifetime” gives you a little room to breathe before “Bomber” brings it all home, reminding you where this whole ride started.
They also dropped music videos for “Flowers” and “Dead,” directed by Luke Carr (who’s worked with Angel Olsen and Porches), and they’re just as moody and cinematic as you’d hope.
High. have been building something, playing nonstop with bands like DIIV, Soul Blind, and Been Stellar, and now they’ve got their first vinyl pressing to show for it. This feels like a turning point, and they know it.
Like Christian Castan said, “It took a while, but we’re here now and ready to go for the moon.” If Come Back Down is any indication, they’re not coming back down anytime soon.
High. take the emotion of classic shoegaze and push it forward with heavier riffs, bigger hooks, and a restless energy that feels impossible to ignore. This EP proves they’re just getting started.
Play it loud:
