Micah and the Mirrors’ debut full-length Liars Chair eases in with the cinematic sweep of Opus, then pivot to You’ll See and the title track, both of which start like hushed folk ballads but quietly bare their teeth. It feels restrained, almost cautious, but then the record kicks the door in and shifts into full-on rock mode, although with the foot close to the brake.

What’s the play here? It turns out to be a new project by Micah Morris, whom we know from Fast Eddy, but here trades their barroom swagger for something rawer, lonelier, and oddly clear-eyed. Written between the band breaking up, a collapsed marriage, and some other losses, these ten new songs feel lived-in rather than labored over, to great effect.

There’s still grit (grooving riffs, ragged hooks), but it’s tempered by reflection and a sense of hard-won forward motion. Recorded quickly in Atlanta with a tight crew, the album builds on instinct over polish. Starting over rarely sounds this rough-edged, and it hits all the harder for it.

Liars Chair is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through Beluga Records (EU) and Spaghetty Town Records (US).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Beluga || Spaghetty Town