Planer's new EP, "Feel It Too / Dial," is here with a kind of confidence that makes you sit up and take notice. The project is six minutes of music that feels both compact and expansive in some way, mixing dense alternative rock textures with the kind of emotional weight that gives the music real staying power. Heavy guitars and wide dynamics nod to the band’s 90s alt-rock and grunge roots but what makes this release stand out is how it balances grit with clarity. But there's power here, and space, and reflection and a cinematic sense of scale that carries us through the record with real anticipation.
The EP opens with “Feel It Too,” a song full of a wall of guitar that sounds immediate and alive, but what gives the song its edge is the emotional pull underneath the distortion. The vocal back and forth between Jack Mooradian and Zack Moncrieff adds some depth and contrast to the song and makes it feel a little bigger than its run time. You are not rushed into the impact and the tension builds naturally, giving you the room to sit in the atmosphere. The bass and drums drive everything forward with power, but the arrangement still leaves room for some quieter tension, which makes the heavier moments hit even harder. It does exactly what an opening statement should do, hooking us quickly but also giving us a taste of the broader sonic identity that Planer is constructing.
From here, “Dial” just gets moodier, and it doesn’t let up. While the first track is an almost urgent entry point, this one digs a bit more into atmosphere and emotional contrast, adding a second layer of texture to the EP. The guitars still have that thick, aggressive feel but the song feels more expansive in its pacing, like it’s reaching outwards rather than just pushing forwards. That change makes the record flow better, makes the second track feel like an extension of the first, not a reiteration of it. Special mention also to the rhythm section, Matt Day’s bass and Ricky Frame’s drumming, giving a hard, physical base to the song but still allowing the more introspective side of the song to shine through.
The beauty of “Feel It Too/Dial” is that it doesn’t try to do too much, but it says a lot. Planer knows how to slow down and that is important here. The EP is very clear in its artistic identity, heavy, melodic, emotionally charged and precise enough to feel modern but still rough on the edges. There are plenty of valid comparisons to Hum, Dinosaur Jr., and Smashing Pumpkins, but this release is not just a nostalgic wink at alt-rock's past. It feels like a band that has found its lane with purpose and confidence and enough chemistry to make the whole thing feel cohesive. For a two-track project, it’s a big impression and a clear promise of more to come.
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