‘Eternal’ Shows The Waeve Flit Between Darkness And Light In A Beautifully Dark Exploration Of Longing And Love

A continuation of the sound and atmosphere of their second album ‘City Lights’, The Waeve return with a three-track EP, ‘Eternal’. Within three songs, the duo deftly cement their position as one of the most fearless and progressive art rock bands on the scene, melding industrial, synth-laden instrumentals with eerily beautiful and seductive vocals into something unparalleled. 

Coxon and Dougall are far from newcomers, and ‘Eternal’ cements the combined strength of two seasoned artists. 

Starting with the first single, ‘Love Is All Pain’ is a compelling lamentation of the allure of inner cities and the destructive tendencies this often leads to, much similar to the titular 2024 single, ‘City Lights’. Exploring the inescapable dependency of love and subsequent heartbreak, the cyclical nature of emotion becomes hypnotic rather than a warning, making us all fall victim, thanks to Dougall’s angelic call. The combination of disorientating shifts in tempo, flaming synth flourishes, and the sultry urgency of saxophone sections make it an utterly addictive listen.

Pulsating into life, ‘It’s The Hope That Kills You’ encapsulates the band’s ability to move between darkness and light, to within the shadows or basking in the sunlight, from the grinding, heavy guitar tone to Dougall’s voice breaking through the clouds of darkness, “a thread of optimism… her voice blossoms through the bleakness I created,” states Coxon on discussing Dougall's vocals on the track. Rather than stand apart, the call and response between the two work together to create feelings of longing, dread, and, ultimately, love. 

Not only do The Waeve have instrumental talent in manifest, but their ability to weave lyrical tales is something to behold, and ‘Eternal’ proves that. Leaning into romantic, poetical imagery, ‘Eternal’ explores the afterlife with a mythical perspective, drawing on both the natural and supernatural. Starting with Coxon’s delicate vocals, backed with echoing percussion and sparse strings, its pop-focused sound stays true to all that The Waeve have established with whispers of saxophone lines and alternating vocals. It’s the perfect snapshot of the ever-lasting beauty of the human condition, even as fragile and fleeting as it may be. 

In today’s musical age, the need to constantly release music is a probing necessity for artists. Yet, The Waeve only strives to build their notoriety with every release. A duo that thrives on contrasting textures and imagery to create something uniquely theirs. From last year's release of ‘City Lights’ to the subsequent live album ‘City Lights Sessions (Live)’, and now a three-track EP, the two have fearlessly paved their way as a band that thrives on contrasts and experimental shifts in style and sound. From the intricacy of strings and melodious vocal delivery to industrial turmoil and gritty guitar lines, The Waeve are like nothing that has come before them, and ‘Eternal’ proves that ten-fold. 

Witness The Waeve on their current 2025 tour at the following dates. 

Megan-Louise Burnham

@mgn.lb

Image: ‘Eternal’ Official EP Cover

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