GENRE; Rock/ Electronic 

LABEL; deadAir 

REVIEWED; 18 November, 2025

RATING; 7.6

Quannnic’s third studio album, Warbrained (released August 22, 2025 via DeadAir Records), is a bold evolution in their artistic trajectory — marrying gritty, analog shoegaze with deeply emotional themes and refined production. 

Lyrically, Warbrained is framed as a concept album delving into the turbulent psyche of a military veteran wrestling with PTSD and mental unraveling.  Quannnic real name Nick Quan — handles the writing and production themselves, creating an intimate and emotionally raw sound that feels intensely personal. 

Musically, the album stands at the intersection of noisy shoegaze, alt‑rock, and emo. According to New Noise Magazine, tracks like “Prunesnail” open with laid-back jam-session energy, ambient guitar feedback, and a cozy, melancholic groove that gives way to soaring choruses.  On “Heavensafe,” Quannnic layers reverb-laden guitars and thundering percussion to evoke both stormy urgency and a wistful calm.  Meanwhile, “Observer,” one of the lead singles, channels 90s-style angst with razor-sharp riffs and Quannnic’s confident, occasionally rap-tinged vocal delivery. 

One of the album’s greatest strengths is its dynamic balance: distorted guitars and feedback swirl around delicate synthetic textures and rich melodic moments. Reviewers praise how Quannnic doesn’t simply chase the vintage shoegaze sound; they reinterpret it, embedding digital production in but not drowning out the raw human element.  The closing track, “Wardeath,” slows things down with brooding piano and atmospheric electronics before erupting in bit-crushed guitars, giving a powerful sense of emotional climax.