Kevin Bronson on October 30th, 2015

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The angst-filled alt-rock of the 1990s (and the less-commercial indie-rock that influenced it) is back in a pretty big way. And the cavernous but melodic guitar squalor of L.A. trio Bright Missiles is but another sign. The band began as a duo, with transplanted Pittsburghers Cory McConnell and Patrick Shore — once fellow lifeguards at a local pool — jamming like they wanted to break things. Singer-guitarist McConnell and drummer Shore then recruited bassist Alex Price to round out the 1994-styled power trio. Their debut EP “Bones” trades in the same swirling, distorted swathes of guitar as Smashing Pumpkins, less the menacing dark side. Price’s elastic bass lines recall the U.K. hitmakers of that general time, and McConnell’s vocal style is understated. Anybody who lived through the ’90s will dig Bright Missiles’ trail of sonic breadcrumbs; if you don’t adore “Ava,” then check out the opening riffs in “Fairweather.”

||| Stream: The “Bones” EP in its entirety: