My Bloody Valentine

Formed in Dublin in 1983, My Bloody Valentine became the defining act of the shoegaze movement. Led by Kevin Shields, the band developed a signature sound built on layers of distorted, pitch-manipulated guitar that obscured vocals beneath dense harmonic textures. Their 1991 album Loveless is widely regarded as a landmark in alternative rock, taking two years and reportedly costing over £250,000 to produce. Shields' unorthodox technique of strumming while manipulating the tremolo bar created a fluid, seasick quality that countless bands have since attempted to replicate. After a prolonged hiatus, they released m b v in 2013, demonstrating that their approach remained singular. The band's live performances are notorious for extreme volume, often reaching 130 decibels during extended renditions of You Made Me Realise.