Expect an emotional tour-de-force from the Galway group as they come crashing in with their latest EP Waves.

Whilst the Irish group are no strangers to acclaim, having been featured on BBC Radio 1 as well as a plethora of music magazines, their latest EP Waves feels like a statement as if they’re trying to break away from the ‘ones to watch’ crowd. In doing so, they bring us a collection of songs with far more meaning behind them than most bands produce in their career.

Tracks such as Blue and I Don’t Recognise You, which were released as singles late last year, tell powerful stories about forlorn lovers at their wit’s end, backed with lyrics that at times speak truths a little too close to home for home. The band continues this theme with four additional tracks on their first-ever EP.

Whilst the weight and power behind these lyrics is somewhat lost in their latest releases, what is not lost is the story-telling capabilities of lead vocalist Julia Dawson. Dawson’s dulcet tones provide a soft edge to the dark and turbulent themes presented throughout Waves.

Furthermore, whilst the lyrics may lose their impact in some of the tracks, there is real emotion behind each track which ensures the group’s voice has a substance to accompany their dynamic sound.

The EP opens with Drown, a fast-paced track with a sense of grandeur as Dawson’s harmonising voice and hypnotic choruses accompanies high-octane riffs to create a sense of a new beginning—or the end of something that should have long been lost. Add to this a piercing solo at the end and you have for yourself a punchy, dramatic opening to Waves.

Moving on towards what is probably the least appropriately named track: in Slowly it is clear to see the evolution of the band, starting with a gnarly bit of feedback before then progressing to the soft-rock hooks and Dawson’s moody lyrics. This track offers a modern sound without being too far a departure from earlier tracks such as How and Swimming.

In their third track, I Don’t Recognise You, you can’t help but feel the full force of the group’s talents as they beset often poetic lyrics against the backdrop of melodic guitar work and a strong, poppy hook leading into an undeniably compelling chorus.

Blue is a powerful ballad where Dawson’s story-telling prowess is matched by a mellow guitar riff, allowing for her voice to be the song’s anchor in a track where the emotion is inspired through NewDad’s lyrics.

In their fourth track, Hide, the power behind the lyrics seems to be lost in and amongst the usual fast-paced riffs, although it is followed by a sweet chorus that resonates after a few playthroughs and leaves you once again taken aback by Dawson’s ethereal vocals.

In their final track, Waves—aptly sharing the same name as the title—we have arguably the most interesting track of the entire EP. What starts off as another slow ballad, backed by an apathetic quality in the vocals befitting of the lyrics, evolves into an anthem for those reeling from lost love with a robust chorus. A fitting end to the EP, Waves leaves you feeling empowered whilst mindful of the past.