- Label: 'Magic Door Record Label'
- Genre: 'Indie'
- Release Date: 'April 1, 2026'
Our Rating:
I honestly thought The Dambuilders were the kind of band whose music was destined to be relegated to college radio memorabilia - the kind of stuff you cherish on old mixtapes but do not expect to hear new again. But this 2026 version of Shrine totally caught me off guard. Usually, when a band from the Encendedor era revisits a classic, it feels like a tired retread, but this version actually has some real teeth. It has that same twitchy, jagged energy that made them 90s staples, just with a much beefier, clearer sound.
Dave Derby with his vocals are the absolute center of gravity here. He has not lost that sense of romantic urgency that made the original so addictive; he still sounds like he is singing for his life, but there is a grounded maturity to the delivery now that makes it hit even harder.
Then you have Joan Wasser on violin and backing vocals, which are just uber-present and vibrant. Her performance gives the track a melodic lift that feels both elegant and dangerous at the same time. The original chemistry between the two is clearly still there, and having Ray Ketchem and Greg Calbi polish it up ensures that every bit of that emotional friction is preserved.
What is wild is looking back at where everyone went after they split in the late 90s. You have Joan Wasser doing the Joan As Police Woman thing, Kevin March drumming for Guided By Voices, and Dave Derby seemingly playing with everyone from Lloyd Cole to members of Nada Surf and the Furs. All that mileage shows up in the musicianship. The release also includes a companion B-side titled I Hope We Are Not Too Late, involving a new line-up that includes Sean Eden and Claudia Chopek.
If you grew up on stuff like Sloan, Pavement, or Buffalo Tom, this is going to hit the spot. It is just good, smart indie rock that does not feel like it is trying too hard to be modern, yet it does not feel stuck in the past either. It is a massive win to have them back in the fold, and based on the energy here, I am genuinely excited to see what this new chapter has in store for us.
