Swedish rockers Valvet succeed across both introspection and anthemic energy on their new EP, Mirrors & Ecstasy. Across four tracks, the band explores personal turmoil, perseverance, and fleeting hope, crafting emotionally resonant soundscapes with dynamic tonal entrancement; it’s a fully impressive showing from Valvet, now signed to Rexius Records.
“Mountains” opens the EP with captivating allure, weaving lush acoustic strums with a hypnotic vocal introspection. “Chaos in the wind, chaos underneath my skin,” they let out, searching for personal tranquility with a sense of yearning. “Bury me before the dawn,” they continue, expanding into a rousing, emotive soaring around the one-minute mark — referencing the “highest mountain” with artful precision; there’s a gripping sense of perseverance within, both in reference to that lofty mountain and the admissions of personal chaos. Its second half then enthralls with a more spirited, anthemic ardor.
Another highlight arises in “Giving it Up,” a brisker rock/pop synergetic success as it gets underway — and then enthralling with a brief, dreamy introspection before a bustling, hooky expanse of shimmering guitars and title-referencing vocal enthusiasm. “Falling” then concludes the EP in wholly satiating form, stirring especially in the ghostly vocal “I’m falling” admissions into flickering guitars and stomping rhythms — and finalized by jumpy prog-rock maneuvering and ardent vocal power. Mirrors & Ecstasy is an enveloping listening experience from Valvet.
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“Giving it Up” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
