The Pattern Speaks, the debut album from Austin-by-way-of-Glasgow space-gaze duo SKLOSS, is a killer journey through heavy psychedelia, post-metal drones, meditative rhythms, and raw, distorted riffs.
Each of the album’s eight tracks balances the pulverizing with the ethereal, crafting an atmospheric wall of sound reverberating with fury and fragility, a testament to the duo’s unflinching honesty and creative intent.
Formed in the crucible of COVID lockdowns, SKLOSS is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Karen Skloss (Moving Panoramas) on drums and Sandy Carson (Igolmat) on guitar. “Surrounded by drums, amps, and the chaos outside our window, playing loud was our way of processing it all,” says Skloss.
What began as cathartic jam sessions in their Austin home, nestled next to the woods, quickly evolved into fully-formed songs. The duo channeled their pent-up energy and the surreal pandemic atmosphere into a soundscape louder, heavier, and more experimental than one might expect from just two musicians.
Their sonic explorations found a voice in the self-released 2022 EP Voices Travel Through This. Sharing stages with bands like Divide & Dissolve, Messa, The Well, Glorium, and Oryx, SKLOSS built a reputation for their incendiary live performances, culminating in a standout set at the 2022 Levitation Festival.
The momentum carried them into the rollercoaster winter of 2023 and spring of 2024 when they retreated to Point West Studios with engineer Charles Godfrey (known for his work with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Swans) to record their debut LP.
The result is The Pattern Speaks, a strong declaration of the band’s identity and artistic ambition. Dropping March 7th, 2025, via London-based label Fuzz Club, the album promises to expand the boundaries of SKLOSS’ sound, embracing their heaviest and gentlest impulses in equal measure.
Beyond the music, SKLOSS’ creative DNA is steeped in multidisciplinary artistry. Karen Skloss is a filmmaker whose work has been recognized by Barack Obama and celebrated through her editing of films on cultural icons Syd Barrett and Townes Van Zandt. Sandy Carson, a former professional BMX rider turned acclaimed photographer and cinematographer, brings a kinetic, visual storytelling element to the band’s ethos. Together, their creative synergy is as palpable as the music they produce.
Check out the title track and lead single from the album, which promises excellent things to come for the album release in March. Enjoy!
Pre-order The Pattern Speaks by SKLOSS on Bandcamp here.
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