Circa Waves complete the final piece to the puzzle with the second half of their upcoming double album Death & Love. The indie-rock veterans are now six albums deep and have the experience to create a record with deep emotional terrain where the themes of morality and connection intersect. Death & Love relishes its raw and honest themes thanks to the broad songwriting of Kieran Shudall at the helm, creating a record lyrically mature but sonically eclectic in its indie rock roots. From its high energy rock and roll spurts to its shimmering indie rock spells, Death & Love is sure to be an earworm for all rock fans alike.
Part 2 begins with the thumping bassline of ‘Lost In The Fire’, thrusting the listener straight back into the Death & Love world. The electric opener is an eruption of gritty rock and roll. It’s not often Circa Waves explore this area of their sound but when they do it’s executed to perfection. The blistering guitar solo towards the end of the song is the cherry on the cake, this is Circa Waves at their best. ‘Lost In The Fire’ sets up the album brilliantly and stands out as one of the highlight tracks on the record. ‘Stick Around’ sees Circa Waves lean more towards their indie rock style. There is a strong influence of The Strokes here in its punchy guitars and is accompanied by an infectious indie chorus. Shudall’s lyricism is striking here. Take the line “If I don’t have the heart, you’ll have to play both cards” as the catalyst. The lyrics reflect a moment of emotional impasse in a relationship where one person is struggling and needs to lean on the other to keep things going. A realisation that the connection is too important to lose, even if it’s complicated. Circa Waves are proving to be masters of their craft, uplifting indie rock disguised with deeper maturer themes.
Lead single ‘Cherry Bomb’ also leans heavily towards the recurring Death & Love theming that’s present throughout the entirety of the record. It’s an anthemic dive into Circa Waves core sound that derives from indie-pop with its playful guitars and groovy drums. It’s in the chorus, however, where the song truly ignites — an earworm restraint that refuses to let go.
Of the two singles however, it’s ‘Old Balloons’ that stands out as the stronger offering, landing on Part 2 as the album’s seventh track. It’s a taut, emotionally charged slice of indie rock that blends raw lyricism with sharp, melodic precision.
Closing the record is ‘Wave Goodbye’ — a fitting farewell to the Death & Love universe. Stripped back and intimate, the track leans into simplicity with a delicate acoustic guitar at its core. Subtle yet effective backing vocals gel well during the chorus, adding emotional depth and a sense of finality. It’s a reflective closer that doesn’t overstate its welcome, instead offering a quiet resolution to the album’s emotional journey — the kind of ending that lingers long after the final note.
With the final part of Death & Love, Circa Waves solidify their place as seasoned indie veterans. This second instalment completes the emotional and sonic arc that began with Part 1, bringing with it a sense of urgency, depth, and reflection. Balancing anthemic hooks with introspective songwriting, the band manages to bridge youthful energy with a matured perspective on love, loss, and everything in between. Whether it’s the gritty charge of ‘Lost In The Fire’ or the emotional weight of ‘Old Balloons’, Circa Waves deliver a record that is both cohesive and compelling. Death & Love is not just a double album — it’s a statement of intent from a band that continues to grow without losing sight of what made them special in the first place.
Circa Waves: Death & Love Pt2– Out 24 October 2025 (Lower Third / PIAS)
