“Mettle” by She’s Green

In their four-year existence, Minneapolis’s She’s Green has emerged as one of the leading lights of the modern shoegaze scene. The quintet have released seven acclaimed singles and EPs, including last year’s “Willow,” that highlight their dual-guitar approach and Zofia Smith’s dreamy voice — and “Mettle” is more of the same.

I mean that, of course, in the best possible way, especially when “Mettle” kicks in with some crunch and distortion, and Smith’s voice takes on an air of urgency as she sings “Sinking through this/Cruel world of progress/Tryin’ to not cave in.” Even so, the song still possesses that trademark She’s Green dreaminess, which becomes particularly affecting in its final seconds as Smith and her bandmates push back against the gloom and despair.