Recommended Tracks: “covet,” “dolorous,” “nepenthe”
Artists You May Like: Holywatr, John Harvie, Lil Lotus
Hailing from the Northeast (NY & NJ), sace6 is a groundbreaking duo in modern pop. Transmitting emotion through sound, their art lives where pop melodies, R&B intimacy, and metal intensity coexist.
Formed in 2024 by sace and Noah Thomas, the project is built on monochromatic romanticism and a tension-heavy aesthetic, feeling both fragile yet confrontational. Their sound thrives on duality: softness versus distortion, vulnerability versus volume. Having made appearances across North America, the UK, and Europe, sace6 have already taken their vision worldwide. With a packed touring schedule ahead of them for the rest of the year, including a headline tour beginning in June, and the release of their debut album brutalist, sace6 are just getting started, and they’re not interested in playing it safe.
Clocking in at 40 minutes long, brutalist showcases everything that defines sace6’s sound. Moving effortlessly between soft and heavy, the album creates a distinct balance; you can tell from start to finish that this is a piece of sace6’s work. brutalist thrives on contrast, emphasizing heaviness with moments of intimacy, while still feeling intentional. A feature from jxdn adds another layer that’s clearly influenced by pop music, which further highlights sace6’s skills in blending genres.
I’ve been a fan of sace6 since 2024, and it’s been so interesting to watch their sound evolve over the years while still feeling true to who they are. brutalist feels like a shift in direction, but it doesn’t lose their signature sound. Instead, it feels like growth. They’re moving forward but still stay recognizable, and that kind of balance is what I’m drawn to with this project; it’s changed, but it’s still cohesive.
The project opens with “besotted,” the perfect introduction to the album. It immediately highlights sace’s vocals, and the way the background slowly builds is addictive. When the beat drops, every little layer is noticeable without feeling overwhelming. After an instrumental break, the song shifts into something heavier, adding even more depth. “besotted” effortlessly sets the tone for brutalist; it has a little bit of everything and gives you a clear idea of how the rest of the album sounds.
The following “reverie” has quickly become a fan favorite. The opening immediately stands out, sounding completely different from anything else on the album before it shifts into a smoother track. The chorus is softer and then builds back up into heavy guitar-driven sections. Noah and sace explain that “this was the first song or even idea we had started for brutalist. The song took a shape of its own and had a huge role in creating the sound for the album,” and that influence is definitely noticeable throughout the record.
jxdn’s feature also perfectly fits into the song, adding another layer of passion with lines such as “if it ain’t love, then baby it’s nothin’ / it’s dumb, but baby it’s somethin'” and “it’s been 30 seconds since I let you cross my mind.” The song continues with heavier moments right up until the bridge, where the overlapping vocals between sace and jxdn are outstanding. jxdn and sace always have chemistry, and “reverie” is just another example.
The album then fades into “basorexia.” This is one of brutalist‘s shorter tracks, but definitely not one to go unnoticed. Something I love about this song is the use of autotune, adding a distinct feel and a different kind of edge. Noah’s verse also stands out with a sound reminiscent of something you might hear from Chase Atlantic, showing off sace6’s incredible ability to blur the lines between genres once again. What makes “basorexia” so appealing is how you can’t place it in one category. It feels like pop, it’s heavy, it’s experimental, it’s emotional — all at the same time. In an interview with Jaimunji, Jaimunji says, “the best part about you guys is that I don’t know how to place you into a box,” a statement that feels especially true when you hear this track.
“allured” opens slowly, with a solo guitar layered with sace’s beautifully haunting vocals. As the drums begin to fade in, the song transforms into something much more emotionally intense. By the time you reach the chorus, the track becomes heavier with Noah’s vocals adding the contrast that defines sace6’s sound. The duo describes the single as exploring “the true personality of someone who seeks validation from others by making themselves and everyone around them believe their worth and intentions the way they wish they truly were.” This theme is prevalent throughout with lines “Are you persuaded? Have you made yourself believe what you’re saying yet?”. “allured” stands out as one of the album’s most vulnerable moments; it’s so raw and honest while still remaining powerful.
Then there’s “ego,” the album’s first single. The track immediately throws you into one of the heavier moments on brutalist. Once again, the guitar-driven instrumental is packed with energy. The intense chorus especially stands out; lines like “You hold on too tight … you just won’t give up unless I’m giving you more” and “impulsively repulsed by you” capture the theme of the song, the push-and-pull dynamic that subtly reappears later in the record.
As the track continues, it only gets heavier before exploding into Noah’s scream vocals during the final chorus, which feel even more powerful when they perform the song live. The release of “ego” also came with the announcement that sace6 had signed to Sumerian Records, leading to many fans saying the label won big with them. After hearing a track like this, it’s easy to understand why.
Next is “covet,” which I believe is the best single from the album. There’s something so addictive about this track, and I found myself constantly coming back to it when it first dropped. Released alongside the announcement of brutalist, it feels like the perfect hint of what fans should expect, showing the controlled chaos of what the project would be. “covet” opens with a hip-hop-inspired intro that immediately stands out from the rest of the record before it shifts into something heavier. Right before the second verse and chorus, the guitars come in and completely change the energy in the best way possible.
The duo described “covet” as “an audible representation for jealousy, wanting what/who someone else has to the point of being inept at moving within my own connection.” It’s an idea that’s felt throughout the song, especially in the refrain with lines like “are you sure this is what you want?”. It’s a perfect blend of hip-hop and metal instrumentals with pop and electronic elements all in one track, easily standing out as one of the strongest moments on brutalist.
One of the most vulnerable tracks is “uneven.” It’s also one of the softest, built mostly around piano; the song fully leans into emotion rather than intensity. Noah’s vocals are still heavy, but they feel emotional rather than aggressive.vThe line “I did it all for you” adds to the track’s rawness. sace’s vocals are filled with vulnerability throughout, especially during the chorus, where everything feels exposed. Lines like “I’m so hung up hanging on for dear life / Oh, it doesn’t even bother you to lose me,” immediately set the fragile tone. “uneven” also ties directly back to “ego,” as the two tracks show both perspectives of a single situation. While “ego” is centered around someone holding on too tightly, “uneven” is the exact reverse point of view, creating balance between the two.
Continuing with that same delicate, emotional direction, “dolorous” is arguably the softest on the album. Every line sace sings is full of emotion. The softness of the song makes it stand out, even without any dramatic shifts in sound. One standout moment is when sace sings “here on out, not gonna let you any closer and let go of you.” This line captures the weight of “dolorous.”
Noah also told me at the opening night of the Pale Moonlight Tour that “dolorous” is his favorite song on brutalist, which somehow makes sense even without him having a vocal part in it. The track still feels personal, and it gets even more emotional in the last chorus, where the piano really shines through. One of my favorite parts is the glitchy details in the intro and outro. These would usually clash with the softness of the track, but instead they enhance it, adding a somewhat uneasy sound to the song that makes it stick with you long after it ends.
A huge contrast to the previous two tracks, the energy shifts with “nepenthe.” This song is without a doubt my favorite on brutalist, and honestly might be my favorite sace6 song ever. Right from the start, Noah’s heavy vocals hit hard with the line “can’t deny that I’ve wanted to put myself under you / give me something to forget her,” instantly pulling you in. The meaning behind the title makes the song that much more compelling; the word “nepenthe” refers to something that helps erase the pain or heartbreak of a past relationship, tying perfectly into the lyrics.
The instrumentals in “nepenthe” take over right away. The electronic elements, percussion, guitars, and the addition of strings give the song a dramatic atmosphere. sace’s vocals feel haunting, singing over the heaviness that defines what sace6’s music is. Everything about this track makes it the kind of song to get stuck in your head. The combination of sace’s melodic singing and Noah’s heavy growls over layered instrumentals makes “nepenthe” one of the strongest moments on the album.
“fabulist” comes with a sudden shift as the heaviest track on the album. From the very first lyric, “my own eyes weaponize against me,” it’s clear the song is going to be intense. This track is entirely driven by Noah, giving it a much more aggressive atmosphere. After the intensity, the song ends in complete silence, which feels intentional instead of empty. The sudden cutoff adds impact, and also sets you up for the final track, “perfidy.”
“perfidy” is brutalist‘s longest track, sitting at just under five minutes. I love how this track pulls in a bunch of different elements that can be heard throughout the record. It opens with electronic production and hip-hop-influenced percussion through the use of hi-hats. Then, it shifts into a heavier section, led by distortion, guitars, and Noah’s vocals. Following all the intensity, the song pulls back, ending with piano and strings, with sace singing over them. The ending closes the project softly; everything is able to settle. “perfidy” brings together all the different parts of brutalist, feeling like the most fitting way to end the album.
Overall, brutalist doesn’t feel like just a collection of songs. Nothing about it feels forced or thrown together. The tracks fade into each other in a way that makes the album feel intentional from start to finish. It’s cohesive and feels like it was designed to be experienced all the way through, front to back. Noah’s heavy, aggressive vocals form a perfect balance with sace’s soft and haunting voice. They create a contrast that defines the project and sace6 as a whole.
Lyrically, the album is really strong. The lyrics are beautiful and thoughtful, and they don’t feel forced or out of place. However, I do wish Noah had sung a bit more and had a different vocal presence because he does have a beautiful voice, but the balance between the two still works.
The album gets better with every listen. More details start to stand out, and you notice every layer within every track. brutalist is an incredible body of work that is going to take sace6 far.
brutalist is available to stream now, and tour dates can be found below.
The Pale Moonlight Tour remaining dates with sace6 (tickets here):
5/8 – Grand Rapids, MI – 20 Monroe Live
5/9 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Event Center
5/10 – Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
5/12 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
5/15 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
5/16 – Kansas City, MO – Grinders
5/19 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
5/20 – Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Theatre
5/22 – Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
5/23 – Calgary, AB – MacEwan Hall
5/25 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore
5/26 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
5/28 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live
5/29 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater
5/30 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
The brutalist, initial display North American tour dates (tickets here):
6/10 — Cambridge, MA — The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub
6/11 — New York, NY — Mercury Lounge
6/12 — Philadelphia, PA — MilkBoy
6/13-14 — Greenway, DC — Vans Warped Tour DC 2026 *
6/15 — Charlotte, NC — Snug Harbor
6/16 — Atlanta, GA — Purgatory at The Masquerade
6/19 — New Kensington, PA — Preserving Underground
6/20 — Detroit, MI — Lager House
6/21 — Lakewood, OH — Mahall’s
7/21 — Seattle, WA — Barboza
7/22 — Portland, OR — Polaris Hall
7/24 — San Francisco, CA — Brick & Mortar Music Hall
7/25 — Long Beach, CA — Vans Warped Tour Long Beach 2026 *
7/26 — Phoenix, AZ — The Rebel Lounge
9/20 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life *
9/25 — Los Angeles, CA — Teragram Ballroom
11/14-15 — Orlando, FL — Vans Warped Tour Orlando 2026 *
It’s Not You, It’s Me 2026 Tour Dates with sace6 (tickets here):
7/30 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
8/1 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rockwell at Complex
8/3 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
8/5 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom
8/6 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
8/7 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
8/9 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre
8/10 – Edmonton, AB – Pawn Shop Live
8/11 – Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre
8/12 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
8/14 – St. Paul, MN – Myth Live
8/15 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Event Center
8/16 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
8/19 – Toronto, ON – The Concert Hall
8/23 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
8/25 – Providence, RI – Fête Music Hall
8/26 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount
8/28 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
8/29 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
The brutalist, initial display European tour dates (tickets here):
11/20 — Dublin, IE — Academy 2
11/22 — Glasgow, UK — Cathouse
11/23 — Manchester, UK — The Deaf Institute
11/24 — London, UK — The Lower Third
11/26 — Tilburg, NL — Cultuurfabriek Hall of Fame
11/28 — Paris, FR — Backstage Paris
11/30 — Cologne, DE — MTC Club
12/1 — Berlin, DE — Mikropol
12/2 — Warszawa, PL — Klub Hydrozagadka
12/4 — Prague, CZ — Café V lese
12/5 — Vienna, AT — Chelsea
12/7 — Munich, DE — Milla
12/8 — Paderno Dugano, IT — Slaughter Club
* Indicates festival date
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