Sugar Scars – “Dark Spark – White Light”

Sugar Scars is a duo from El Paso and Juarez, and their album Dark Spark – White Light doesn’t really sound like anything else out right now. The first track, “Dark Charm”, hits you right away and it’s my favorite. It’s moody and weird in a way that pulls you in, but it also sets the tone. You’re not going to be hearing the usual stuff here.

A lot of the album plays with contrast, and you’ll be in this slow, serious headspace with a track like “Sad Rain”, and then out of nowhere comes something like “Deathtiny”, which shifts things in a totally different direction. Nothing’s trying to be tidy. Some songs feel like they’re about trying to make sense of where things went wrong. Others are messier, like they’re still figuring it out. That makes it way more interesting than something that tries to wrap everything up clean. There’s one track in the middle that throws in chant-like vocals and layered sounds that almost feel out of place. But that’s kind of the point, it’s uncomfortable in a way that sticks with you.

If you’re into music that doesn’t follow a formula and actually makes you think a little, give this one a shot. Follow Sugar Scars to see what they do next in 2025.