Hotline TNT are putting the power back in power pop. While they’ve long staked their claim in the shoegaze revival with fuzz-drenched riffs and sharp hooks, Raspberry Moon—their third LP—feels like a breakthrough. It’s lean, melodic, and bigger than ever, polishing their sound without sanding off its edges. The grit is still there, but now it serves something even catchier.
Clocking in at just over 35 minutes, the album is brisk but packed. All three singles hit hard. “Julia’s War” opens with a tidal wave of distortion before pulling back just enough for the vocals to break through—anthemic, direct, and undeniably singable. As frontman Will Anderson puts it: “In a world of half-hearted hooks and buried-in-the-mix vocals, we had to muster the courage to do what the rest of the shoegaze community could not.” The results speak for themselves—Anderson calls the track a “try-not-to-sing-along challenge,” and it’s one few listeners are likely to pass.
“Break Right” locks into a hypnotic groove, while “Candle” races ahead with pounding urgency. Opener “Was I Wrong?” sets the tone immediately, launching into a muscular blend of wiry guitars, relentless bass, and propulsive drums. Anderson’s vocals have never sounded clearer, and the blistering solo that follows feels like it belongs in a stadium, not a dive bar.
Raspberry Moon is also the first album fully written as a band, and that collective energy shows. The mix is cleaner, but more powerful—less about drowning in reverb, more about pushing each part to the front. Producer Amos Pitsch (of Tenement), credited as a fifth member, adds texture through keys, percussion, and layered backing vocals, giving the album extra depth. Instead of smothering everything in fuzz, the band use distortion more strategically—an exclamation point rather than a blanket—allowing each element to shine.
