Massachusetts · shoegaze-metal

Fleshwater

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Vein.fm side project gone huge — grunge-gaze heaviness for the new generation, Deftones worship refracted through hardcore muscle.

Fleshwater formed in Boston in 2017, started by Vein.fm's Anthony DiDio and drummer Matt Wood. Bassist Jeremy Martin, also of Vein.fm, and vocalist Marisa Shirar joined two years later. The band's name is thought to trace back to "Flesh & Water," a track DiDio released under his earlier solo project Death_fm.

The band pairs downtuned alternative metal riffing with washed-out shoegaze guitar and softly delivered melodies, setting DiDio's and Shirar's contrasting vocal styles against each other within the same song. Cited influences include Sunny Day Real Estate, Dinosaur Jr. and Hum, and the band has in turn been named as a reference point by Static Dress, Die Spitz and Split Chain.

Their first recorded track, "Linda Claire," appeared in 2019 with Shirar on lead vocals and was released the following year on the EP demo2020, which built a cult following and pushed the song past a million streams. The band played its first live show in December 2021, supporting Harm's Way in Chicago.

We're Not Here to Be Loved arrived in November 2022 to positive reception, followed a year later by a surprise remix EP, Sounds of Grieving, reworking songs from the album. Touring since has included dates with No Pressure, Koyo and Illusion, further runs with Harm's Way, and a spot on a Deftones and the Mars Volta tour.

A second album, 2000: In Search Of The Endless Sky, followed in September 2025, preceded by the singles "Jetpack" and "Last Escape." The band supported it with a headlining tour featuring Angel Du$t and Chat Pile on select dates.

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shoegaze-metal