An Album from Umbra and the Volcan Siege

Umbra and the Volcan Siege’s Late At Night is a shadow-soaked record that revels in its own sense of disorientation. The Chicago band leans into a darker, more psychedelic register here, often blurring the line between menace and melody. There’s a slow-burn nihilism coursing through the album, but it’s never one-note. Instead, it unfolds in layers of smoke and noise, where vocals often feel like just another instrument bleeding into the atmosphere. The songs have hooks, but this isn’t a record chasing earworms. It’s more interested in building a mood and letting you get lost in it.

There are clear highlights that show how well the band can shape chaos into form. “Making the Moves” stands out early. The low-end is thick and hypnotic, the bass almost elastic, and the vocal delivery feels raw and a little unstable in a way that draws you in rather than pushes you away. It’s confident in its murkiness.

“Johnny’s to Bad” is another favorite. It’s unpredictable and strange in a way that feels fully committed. The vocals teeter on the edge of theatrical absurdity, which makes it one of the most distinct tracks on the album. There’s a twisted sense of humor running through it, like the band is letting the whole thing unspool on purpose.

The closer, “Tribal Eyes,” captures what Late At Night does best. It builds a thick, foggy atmosphere, full of low drones and brooding textures. The track doesn’t so much end as it dissolves, leaving behind the residue of something that felt primal and unspoken.

Late At Night isn’t an easy listen, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s gritty, immersive, and deeply textural. For those who like their psychedelia with a bit more bite and a sense of existential weight, this one’s worth diving into.

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