Review Summary: Sanctuary
Changing with the times, depending on who you ask, can be a good or bad thing. For Boston's Main Era, it appears to be a bit of both. Good in the sense that they appear to be a step closer to finding a sound and identity that they're fully satisfied with. But, perhaps bad in the sense that exposing themselves to new angles of expression, especially in today's upside-down modern world, has given them a sudden brooding edge to their songwriting. Either way, this is the Main Era of 2026: a group that has left their indie-pop beginnings far behind them and have now pressed onward into much more intricate, albeit darker territory.
IV of Wands doesn't entirely come off as a strictly composed album, but rather a personal exploration for a band trying to redefine themselves musically in times of great uncertainty. Such a project, too personal to be spent under the scrutiny of studio deadlines, almost necessitates its DIY nature for the sake of the band's future. Here we see them completely uprooted, self-reliant and unafraid to reinvent themselves even at the risk of having to start over. Luckily for them, they seem to recognize constraint as a facilitator of creativity.
IV of Wands appears to be a deeply personal endeavor for Main Era, the album's name taken from a Tarot card meaning celebration and homecoming. Recorded entirely in a shared basement space in Allston, every aspect of its direction, recording and promotion was headed by the band. At just over 30 minutes, the LP consists of 4 tracks, 3 of which stretch over the 8-minute mark. Their musical approach is somewhat unorthodox, fusing sections of slow, oppressive sludge with even slower post-rock minimalism before a sudden adrenaline shot of angular post-hardcore energy takes over. An array of turmoil and catharsis spreads through each track, the music's progression slow, yet somehow still sudden and unpredictable. Lyrically the songs come across frenzied much like the music, melding personal reflections of disillusionment with modern routine and a need to break free from constraint, themes that run parallel with the band's desire to have complete control over their creative process.
The disjointed nature of the music sounds unwieldy on paper but somehow the band manages to handle this unique curtain of styles skillfully. There's an almost exploratory nature to their composition as if we're hearing the band discover meaning in their sound in real-time. Such a short yet dense track list makes it hard to recommend one song over the other, though in the context of the of this entirely DIY approach to writing, the length and complexity of the songs give them a sense of autonomy not found among contemporary releases. Despite the band's self-production, their music doesn't come across hampered by uneven mixing. On the contrary, the naturalistic tones of home recording give their sound an honest feel that suits them more so than a studio recording likely would have.
IV of Wands is indeed a homecoming, a band has discovered what is possible outside the confines of commercial recording as well as stylistic boundary. It's heavy, it's aggressive and complex, not just in music but emotion as well. As they are now, I find it difficult to compartmentalize Main Era's sound into any one genre, a feat any band wanting to break out in today's oceanic musical landscape can only hope to accomplish.
IV of Wands is a story of new beginnings for Main Era. As for what lies ahead of them now, that's for them to figure out and for us to follow along.
Members
Gigi Greaves
Jack Halberian
Maeve Malloy
Willie Swift
