About five years after their acclaimed ‘Maiden Voyage’ EP, Atlanta’s based Moon Destroys return with a markedly evolved sound. On their debut full-length album ‘She Walks by Moonlight’, the band moves beyond sludge-centric foundations toward a more atmospheric and emotionally layered identity.
Since then, the alternative and dark psychedelic doom-rock project led by Juan Montoya (Torche, MonstrO…) and Evan Diprima (ex-Royal Thunder, Gold Pyramid) has joined the rank of Blues Funeral Recordings, home to bands such as Abrams, Elephant Tree, Gozer, and Lowrider, to embrace the next stage of their evolution.
But back to the point of ‘She Walks By Moonlight’, if their debut record hinted at the project’s potential, pairing crushing riff architecture with psychedelic flourishes and high-profile guest appearances from Troy Sanders (Mastodon) and Paul Masvidal (Cynic). Since then, the band has taken its time refining and expanding its identity rather than rushing toward a full-length follow-up.
That patience is evident on ‘She Walks by Moonlight’. Writing began in late 2023 with Montoya in Miami and Diprima in North Carolina, collaborating remotely before realizing the material demanded a dedicated vocalist. Enter Charlie Suárez, Montoya’s former MonstrO bandmate, who quickly became central to the project—contributing vocals, guitars, and synths that push the band into darker, more cinematic territory. Bassist Arnold Nese (ex-Sunday Driver) joined in late 2024, solidifying the lineup and giving the album additional low-end weight and cohesion.
Musically, the record marks a clear evolution from the band’s earlier sludge-forward tendencies. While heaviness remains integral, it is now deployed with greater restraint and purpose. The album draws from alternative rock, post-rock, post-punk, dark wave, and doom-pop textures, often favoring atmosphere over brute force. Tracks like “The Nearness of June” – arguably the album’s heaviest moment – pair hypnotic repetition with crushing density, while “Only” rides a distorted bassline and swirling effects into a hazy, emotional spiral.
Elsewhere, songs such as “A Song for Jade”, “Metallic Memories”, “Set Them Free”, and the title-track reveal a more introspective side of the band, where space, melody, and texture take precedence. Synth layers and electronic accents add a subtle ’80s alternative and ambient influence, enhancing the album’s sense of scale without diluting its impact. The flow of the record feels deliberate and immersive, designed to be absorbed as a complete journey rather than a collection of standalone tracks.
Production-wise, Diprima handles most of the engineering, mixing, and overall sonic direction, with mastering by the lengendary Carl Saff (Sonic Youth). The result is a sound that feels expansive yet intimate—capable of shifting seamlessly from tranquil, meditative passages to moments of overwhelming weight. Guitars loom and recede like tidal forces, drums move with controlled urgency, and Suárez’s vocals hover between hymn-like reverence and distant lament.
“This record is like a phoenix, soaring over the moon’s glow leaving behind the ashes of darker days,” Montoya reflects. “These are songs with passion in every pulse, tapping into a universal sound for the receptive mind.” It is an apt description for an album that thrives on contrast – light and shadow, calm and destruction, clarity and abstraction.
With ‘She Walks by Moonlight’, Moon Destroys position themselves as more than a side project built on pedigree. While their collective history in bands like Torche, Royal Thunder, MonstrO, and Gold Pyramid provides context, the album stands confidently on its own terms. It is a debut that defies narrow genre expectations, offering a richly textured, emotionally resonant experience that will resonate with fans of Elder, Kyuss, Earthless, or even YOB.
Crushing when it needs to be, meditative when it dares, ‘She Walks by Moonlight’ is a statement of intent—one that suggests Moon Destroys are not merely refining their sound, but actively expanding the emotional and sonic vocabulary of modern heavy rock.
