Premiere: Virgins – s o f t e r

Following on from the release of the ‘Slowly, Long’ single last year, Belfast gazers Virgins are back with a brand new single and album announcement.

I’ve been following this band from day dot through the release of their stunning debut EP, Transmit a Little Heaven. Catching them live in Glasgow was an absolute treat and the sheer energy of their performance has been winning them a lot more fans than just me. The band on this record are Michael Smyth on guitar with David Sloan also on guitar, James Foy on drums, Brendy McCann on bass and Rebecca Dow on vocals. I was keen to find out more about this new track. The band had this to say.

“It’s a shoegaze tour-de-force built around a looping lead riff and the ethereal yearning vocals of Rebecca Dow. Gargantuan walls of dense, beautiful reverbs and dreamy fuzz, transport the listener to a world of abstract beauty and bliss.”

That pretty much nails it. From the hooky riff intro into the explosive drums thundering in ‘s o f t e r’ takes no prisoners. Dows vocals are given tons of space in the verses to weave her siren like spell. This is augmented by the glide guitar parts and tremolo picked stuff. Meanwhile holding it all down the bass provides a steady pulse, never sitting still for a moment.

‘s o f t e r’ is such an addictive track. I’ve had it on loop for a few weeks now and it’s not lost any of its freshness or energy. Speaking of energy check out the promo video directed and shot by Ebony Alexander and Michael Smyth.

The single accompanies the announcement of their eagerly anticipated debut album, nothing hurt and everything was beautiful due out April 11th via Blowtorch Records on a pressing of 300 starburst vinyl. Those who pre-order the album via Virgins Bandcamp page will be treated to an instant download of an exclusive non-album track, ‘g l i s s’. A track that in the band’s own words, “is the bridge from the EP to the album, a sonic clue that nods to what came before but looks forward to what is about to come.”

Rest assured, I’ll be back soon with a full break down of the album.

Tour Dates

Virgins will play two album launch parties:

April 26th

Belfast – Deers Head

April 27th,

Dublin – Sin E

You can follow Virgins on social media here…

Photo credit

Ebony Alexander Media

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