In the humid haze of darkwave/indietronica our friends Mercy Land have released their debut EP Termites. An epic intro that burrows in like a swarm you didn’t see coming—relentless, romantic, and pulsing with promise. Dropped on Halloween 2025 via Feature Bug Studios, the five-track set chews through the drywall of early-aughts nostalgia, spitting out dream pop shards laced with darkwave dread and dancefloor urgency. Think silvery synths and bass throbs that pulse like a heart monitor on the fritz.
Opener “Kid A” sets the infestation with a synth swarm sound opening the track. A nod to Radiohead’s glitch-ghost classic without copying it. Laura Jinn’s ethereal coo floats over warped vocoders and a four-on-the-floor kick that builds like a portal cracking open. The kind of track that hooks you with its bedroom-pop intimacy before Tatum Gale’s layered harmonies and sonic experimentation drags you onto the dancefloor. It’s the EP’s origin story, born from live jams that fused their solo sparks into something fiercer.
The Mercy Land dark dive deepens on “Get Lost!,” (which IBG has covered HERE). A silvery stiletto of dark electronic pop where synths stack like storm clouds and the rhythm section prowls with predatory grace. The lyrics are playful yet offer up wry barbs about lovers who aren’t sure if the pain is worth the pleasure.
Watch the visual album ‘Termites: A Love Story’ by Mercy Land
There is some peppier energy (though still in the shadows) on “When The Lights” and “Route 42.” The ability of Mercy land to absorb the listener into the mesmerizing dance trance sound is impressive. Then they enter deeper into your mind with lyrics that are personal yet relatable to all of us that have lived, loved, and struggled
The title track “Termites” slows it down to enter not just your ears, but your soul. The pretty staccato keyboard melody fills the background as Laura Jinn lays out her heartfelt and thought provoking lyrics. The production takes her voice all over the speakers like whispers only to you. An ending that will leave you relaxed and ready for another full EP listen.
At just under 20 minutes, Termites doesn’t overstay; it infests, then invites you to burn it all down and rebuild. Consider this is the fresh bite your playlist craves. Darkwave for doom-scrollers. A reminder that even in the code’s cold crawl, two hearts can sync up and shake the screen with emotion. Mercy Land isn’t just emerging; they’re eroding the edges, one euphoric nibble at a time.
