Fleshwater places their emotions on a platter for our consumption with their latest offering 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky

Words by Paulina Subia | 05 Sep, 2025

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When Fleshwater first branched off from their metalcore roots in Vein.fm, their full-length debut, 2022’s We’re Not Here to Be Loved, raised eyebrows among the Nineties rock purists and new generation hardcore kids alike, thanks to the striking contrast of vocalist Marisa Shirar’s gentility against the grinding instrumentals. Riding the wave of nu metal and shoegaze nostalgics while crafting an authentic strain of their own, Fleshwater proved capable of fusing “old” and “new,” while leaving room for something dangerous, yet enticing, to crawl underneath the surface.

Now, on the much-anticipated follow-up, 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky, we once again hear Shirar’s siren song vocals matched perfectly with the heaviness supplied by guitarist/vocalist Anthony DiDio, guitarist Jon Lhaubouet, bassist Jeremy Martin and drummer Josian Omar Soto Ramos. With so much promise harnessed in Fleshwater’s debut, it is no surprise that their sophomore offering hears them return with their signature melodic hardcore, though elevated and refined.

Opening with “Drowning Song”, Shirar’s wails are an instant, familiar comfort. Her ability to balance airy tunes with wistful cries is captivating. Ramos’ steady drumming drives the track forward and sonically, it’s a welcome reminder of Fleshwater’s power, heard in their individual ferocity. This continues on “Green Street,” as we hear Shirar’s melodies at odds with DiDio’s muffled screams. The second half is a trip of discordant guitars with tumbling drums, and as the vocals grow distant, they mimic a spiral down a dark hole, grasping at air.

“Jetpack”, the lead single, is a groove-infused track catapulted by downbeat guitars. Here, DiDio’s vocals are clear and infused with a hint of disdain, cool to hear in light of his usual gutturals. Lyrically, it is a standout on the album, telling a tale of discontent as DiDio drones, “And still nothing has changed / The thrill offsets the outcome / Allowing in all the pain of the universe”. Dizzying landscapes of swirling drums and fuzzed-out chords consume “Last Escape,” and it carries the shared chemistry between the vocalists, one that grows as each song evolves. Perhaps the most “pop” track on the album, it wields an infectiousness that is uncontainable.

“Be Your Best” and “Jerome Town” converse with one another, lyrically, continuing the theme of consumption inside one’s own head, begging for a sense of release. Amplified in the former through a trip-hop trance, its slowness gets lost in itself — perhaps intentionally, as it fades into a hazy question mark. The latter, however, pummels through the fog with its opening riff, and DiDio’s radio-static vocals float along. As his and Shirar’s voices meet at the end, it is a testament to Fleshwater, at their best: emotionally-charged, merged in a force that is chaotic and all-consuming, but polished, too.

Listen to Ramos’ frenzied drumming on “Raging Storm,” the emo-rooted vocals traded by Shirar and DiDio on “Endless Sky,” and the ease of the guitars and bass’ versatility, switching from familiar hardcore breakdowns to lurking grunge chords, and endless inspirations found in between, and you’ll understand the layered appeal of Fleshwater: each member places their emotions on a platter for our consumption. Above all, they are undeniably thrilling, with each song on 2000: In Search of the Endless Sky leaving you on edge.

Verdict: 💀💀💀💀

For Fans Of: Deftones, Superheaven, Wisp

2000: In Search of the Endless Sky out now via Closed Casket Activities