Over the past year, I’ve noticed a subtle but steady reappearance of grunge-era sensibilities in new music-particularly in production choices. Bands are embracing unpolished textures, dry and roomy drums, saturated guitars, and vocal takes that sound more emotionally raw than pitch-corrected. Even in genres outside of rock, there’s a noticeable drift toward lo-fi, "imperfect" sonics that feel more aligned with In Utero than Wasting Light.
On the visual and cultural side, the fashion and attitude associated with the early '90s Seattle scene seems to be reentering the zeitgeist-though arguably stripped of its original anti-commercial intent.
Curious if anyone else is seeing this trend from a production, arrangement, or gear-use standpoint. Are we witnessing a genuine reabsorption of grunge into modern music, or is this just another aesthetic cycle?
Would love to hear your take-especially from those who lived through the original wave or are seeing this reflected in their client work or releases.
Grunge resurgence?
-
FranklyFlawless FranklyFlawless https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=586325
- KVRian
- 1091 posts since 24 Oct, 2022
No, I have not noticed any Grunge-inspired influences within Jungle nor local bands.
-
- Beware the Quoth
- 35433 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
No local Grungle?FranklyFlawless wrote: Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:06 pm No, I have not noticed any Grunge-inspired influences within Jungle nor local bands.
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."
-
- KVRAF
- 7156 posts since 23 Nov, 2016 from a small city
There was that terrifyingly awful "Grindie" where the journos tried to make indie landfill teaming up with Grime artists a thing.whyterabbyt wrote: Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:59 pmNo local Grungle?FranklyFlawless wrote: Wed Jul 09, 2025 2:06 pm No, I have not noticed any Grunge-inspired influences within Jungle nor local bands.
Actually the Gang Gang Dance / Tinie Tempah tune was pretty good, but I suppose that's due to the quality of both acts
-
FranklyFlawless FranklyFlawless https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=586325
- KVRian
- 1091 posts since 24 Oct, 2022
There are several cover bands in the Fraser Valley, otherwise I have not paid much attention outside of my local area. Independent live performance artists, regardless of genre, are exceptionally rare.
-
- KVRAF
- 4088 posts since 27 Aug, 2004
If shoegaze can come back, why not grunge?
Even if the piano player can't play, keep the party going.
http://www.soundclick.com/mumpcake
https://mumpfucious.wordpress.com/
http://www.soundclick.com/mumpcake
https://mumpfucious.wordpress.com/