While some bands chase a polished studio sound, Dimming set out to make something that felt true to themselves. The New York City band recently dropped their Dirtnap Demo, a fully DIY effort that pulls together death metal, doom, and shoegaze, all filtered through the city's hardcore scene.
Dimming started two years back when drummer Brandon and bassist Ned, both longtime fixtures in New York's extreme music circles, decided to lock in on a new project. After a few lineup changes, guitarists Kris and Isa came on board. Michelle joined on vocals after Brandon found her through Reddit's r/Brooklyn. Her anguished vocal delivery sits perfectly over Dimming's darkened metallic hardcore style. "It was amazing to see that she fit right in with us," Brandon tells No Echo.
From the start, Dimming aimed to blend heaviness with atmosphere. Their influences run from Thou and Primitive Man to Acid King, Lush, and early Decapitated, but the band's songwriting is shaped just as much by their place in New York's hardcore and punk community.
That DIY approach shaped every part of Dirtnap Demo. The band tracked everything themselves in their rehearsal space, using Reaper and a basic Behringer interface, with no formal audio engineering experience. After nearly two years of writing, Brandon spent two more months mixing, pushing through 11 rounds of mastering before settling on the final cut.
The artwork got the same hands-on treatment. Brandon and Ned came up with the concept, scouted locations over several nights, gathered props, and set up the shoot themselves. Photographer Bianca (@newyorkfunk) took the final shot, even as the band dealt with rain and a visit from the police during the session.
With the demo out, Dimming is turning their focus to playing live. "We're literally brand new and have our first batch of shows coming up in August," Brandon says. "We're also always writing new riffs and progressions so that you can expect new tracks down the road."
The band also points listeners toward other NYC acts like No Values, 100 Hour War, Bo Daddy Harris, Kartel, Dogbreath, and Sana Sana.
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Dimming on social media: Instagram
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