Sunstinger – Spare Me The Rapture (2026)
Established as one of the more prolific artists in the UK shoegaze scene, Scottish group Sunstinger draw together vulnerability, fragility, listlessness, and a heart-wrenching look at reality through cinematic music. With over 25 years in the music scene, Taylor Wright (vocals and guitar), David McCullock (guitar), Scott Gourlay (guitar), Bill Anderson (bass), and the most recent recruit, Colm Boyle (drums), are no longer newbies in the music industry shark pool. However, with the addition of Boyle, Sunstinger’s music has the zip and fascinating brightness of a minnow in the pool, while retaining their weighty reputation. The latest addition to their discography is the single, ‘Spare Me The Rapture’.
Beginning the year with a new line-up, Sunstinger stomped into 2026 with heavier, forceful, and more “in your face” music. A new chapter in their journey, ‘Nvr Nver’ and ‘Keeper’ felt a rock punch (the genre, not a real rock) in the gut coming forward with bold ferocity. Now, the latest single, ‘Spare Me The Rapture’ is even greater hit between the eyes.
Produced by Sean Mitchell, Sunstinger opens the door a crack with a few plucks of Anderson’s bass; then the crashing drums rip the musical door open with a mischievous smile. Dragging you into a sonic hurricane, Boyle’s drums toss you this way and that – up, down, left, right, all in the roller-coaster of rock music… then, the winds fall. Layers of guitars announce a calm in the storm: the eye to enjoy a clear sky of kaleidoscopic colours. It doesn’t last long, as the guitars get caught up in the sweeping drums. The hurricane pushes, pulls, twirls, spins and leaves you with heart-pounding whiplash – it’s all worth it though.
The instruments are powerful, but it is the vocals that upped the ante in my opinion. Entwined in the melody, it’s as if Wright were holding your hand with his rich, rugged voice. He is the expression of the theme and lyricism, “finding comfort in misery, acceptance of your environment and choosing to live within, rather than looking to a rapture that will never come.”
With the promise of an upcoming EP, Spare Me The Rapture, set for release later this year, I am eager to hear more from Sunstinger.
Find out more about Sunstinger on their Facebook, X, Instagram, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Old Crows Promotions
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