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With a career spanning over a decade, their music has matured in a way that feels both intentional and organic, balancing the infectious indie energy they’re renowned for with a more reflective, vulnerable approach.
‘Death & Love’ opens with a burst of confidence that shines through from the opening track, ‘American Dream’, a coming-of-age anthem that captures the drive of chasing ambitious dreams. Driven by rocky guitars and Kieran Shuddall’s commanding vocals, the track depicts the spirit of revival that runs throughout: bold, hopeful, and ambitious.
‘Death & Love’ opens with a burst of confidence that shines through from the opening track, ‘American Dream’, a coming-of-age anthem that captures the drive of chasing ambitious dreams. Driven by rocky guitars and Kieran Shuddall’s commanding vocals, the track depicts the spirit of revival that runs throughout: bold, hopeful, and ambitious.
The following tracks, ‘Like You Did Before’ and ‘We Made It’ are signature Circa Waves anthems driven by dynamic drum beats accompanied by vibrant guitar lines that radiate their trademark sound. Both tracks highlight the stage-readiness to their tracks that kicked off their career and prove that they haven’t lost the spark that made them stand out from the start.
‘Le Bateau’ radiates an upbeat energy, capturing the joy of being in love. In contrast, ‘Hold It Steady’ brings a slower and more reflective atmosphere, offering a calm moment amongst the high-energy set with passionate vocals.
‘Le Bateau’ radiates an upbeat energy, capturing the joy of being in love. In contrast, ‘Hold It Steady’ brings a slower and more reflective atmosphere, offering a calm moment amongst the high-energy set with passionate vocals.
‘Let’s Leave Together’ steers the album back onto a cheerier path, capturing the feeling of authenticity and comfort that comes from being yourself with someone else. The lyrics, “With you I can be anyone”, encapsulate that sense of freedom and connection at the heart of the track.
Reflecting on the album, frontman Kieran Shuddall described ‘Death & Love’ as “The end of a chapter. Saying goodbye to the scariest part of my life so far. The songs are about being close to death, coming out the other side and loving life. It’s an album filled with fear and euphoria, sadness and joy.”
‘Cherry Bomb’ was written by Shuddall about his wife and is fuelled by whirring guitars and an opening melody reminiscent of late-‘80s synth-pop, whilst still carrying the punch of a modern indie-pop anthem. It captures the euphoric rush of love and nostalgia and shows Circa Waves’ ability to balance personal storytelling with gripping melodies that linger long after the song ends.
The album concludes with ‘Wave Goodbye’, a fitting finale that ties all themes – closure, evolving, and moving on – together. Its reflective tone and nostalgic melody create a sense of liberation that runs throughout ‘Death & Love’. As the final notes fade, there’s a feeling of resolution. It's not just the end of an album, but the closing of a personal chapter for Shuddall and the band. It’s an ending that feels hopeful rather than heavy, leaving a lasting effect on listeners.
This release unveils the most personal side of Circa Waves to date, proving their evolution through a depth of instrumentation, powerful lyricism, and Shuddall’s honest, emotive vocals; proving it to be their most accomplished work yet.
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