GENRE; Alternative Rock/ Grunge/ Hard Rock/ Indie Rock/ Post-Punk
RELEASE DATE; 12 June, 2026
RATING; 4.3/5
Sipul’s In The Still is an unfiltered exploration of emotional collapse, resilience, and the search for clarity amid psychological turmoil. The Rochester, New York trio channels years of personal struggle into a record that refuses easy comfort, instead embracing uncertainty with remarkable honesty. James “Spaz” Spaziani, alongside bassist Al Bellanca and drummer Doug Folen, has crafted an album born from persistence and trust, with every track reflecting the chemistry of a band committed to expressing difficult truths. Rather than chasing polished perfection, In The Still thrives on authenticity, allowing every moment to feel earned.
The album draws inspiration from an unsettling Reddit story about a man trapped in an imagined reality after a coma, using that concept as a lens through which depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder are examined. That narrative thread gives the record a dreamlike tension, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Songs often feel suspended between hope and despair, inviting listeners into a deeply personal experience that never feels exploitative. The honesty behind the writing is impossible to ignore, transforming painful memories into something capable of resonating far beyond the band’s own experiences.
Among the standout moments, “Margarine of Error” captures the exhausting battle against intrusive thoughts with striking spoken-word passages and restless intensity. “No End” shifts the atmosphere further, presenting a haunting meditation on hopelessness while expanding the band’s sonic identity beyond familiar grunge territory. Elsewhere, inventive production choices, including recordings of rotary phones, typewriters, wood saws, bells, and shovels, add unexpected texture without distracting from the emotional narrative.
Recorded independently in Al Bellanca’s basement, In The Still reflects the freedom that comes from complete creative control. The absence of outside pressure allowed Sipul to experiment fearlessly while preserving the raw character of each performance. More importantly, the album stands as evidence that artistic expression can become a powerful form of healing, closing one painful chapter while offering listeners reassurance that even the darkest moments can eventually give way to hope.
SONGS ON ALBUM
1. Loser’s Limp
2. Eating a Reuben Alone in a DMV Bathroom
3. Familiar Stranger
4. Treading Water
5. Travelator
6. Sanguine
7. Ford Nova
8. Hibachi Ball
9. Margarine of Error
10. Pocket M&Ms
11. Later
12. No End
13. Better Call It
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