Indie powerhouse Circa Waves have unveiled the second chapter of their brand-new album, Death & Love Pt.2.

Both parts join to make the whole 18 track album that is available on streaming services and physical media like CD and vinyl.

The deeply personal second part covers survival, euphoria, and the joy of living after band member Kieran Shuddall’s life-saving heart surgery in 2023.

Death & Love Pt.2 completes that arc of dancing away from the bad times and into the good. The purpose of Circa Waves after all is to be a tonic, an escape and a distraction, and the frontman is ready to move on.

“This album feels like the more optimistic part of the two records,” says Shuddall.

“It almost feels like if the first record was before the operation and death and fear of dying, then one is coming through the other side. It’s about love, life, survival and euphoria”.

Fans have already been treated with two singles in the lead up to the album release, the synth pop track ‘Cherry Bomb’ and the musically inclined ‘Old Balloons’.

The two sister records come together to boast the sound of bouncing back from potential tragedy. Life is for living – and living well – and Circa Waves are here to soundtrack that.  

Released in January 2025, Death & Love Pt.1 was all about starting from scratch after his lowest point with his brush with mortality. In early 2023, Kieran received a call from doctors to say that the main artery in his heart was severely blocked.

Two days later, he was lying on an operating table watching a wire being inserted into his heart and was left now having to navigate a new way of life.

However, one record wasn’t enough to house all that would come flooding from such a profound experience. “I’d written so much stuff after all the heart incident stuff – there was a release of creativity,” Shuddall admits. “There were more songs than I’d ever written before, in one furious writing period.”  

Circa Waves formed in 2013 in Liverpool gaining attention for resembling the sound of the likes of Arctic Monkeys and Catfish and the Bottlemen. This pulled them up the ranks, hitting the Top Ten in the charts with their debut ‘Young Chasers’. Since then, they’ve climbed even higher, reaching the number four spot with ‘Sad Happy’ and this record could see them going even higher than they have before.  

The album picks up where the first part left off and comes in with a bang. It really encapsulates what the whole of this album is pushing forward – life is worth living! The catchy chorus leaves you anticipating the rest of the album and is very danceable. I can only imagine that it would be a great song to play at a gig!  

Track two is sweet and vulnerable. Imagine driving in the car on a summer’s day; the nostalgia and relatability that comes from the openness of exploring self-worth, anxiety and relationships make for great listening.

Lead single ‘CherryBomb’ continues this theme but with an 80s influence encapsulating growing up and that coming of age feeling everyone’s younger self longs for.

Put your headphones on, go for a walk and act like you’re in a movie for your younger self – this is exactly what I thought growing up would feel like put into a song!  

The band’s open honesty about life on ‘Ten Outta Ten,’ gives a great experience for listeners; it’s nice to hear the people you look up to having similar feelings or experiences through the exploration of lyrics on self-confidence and mental health. The powerful vocals on this track tell a story about the modern day but still provides a youthful excitement to it.  

Shuddall’s vocals aren’t being hidden away on this album, that’s for sure! On ‘Sunbeams’ the enticing nature of the vocals and dreamy subtleties explore what happens when you take that leap and push yourself out of your comfort zone. It shapes the narrative that the people you surround yourself with, just wanting the best for you, creates that successful and inspiring feeling.  

‘Old Balloons’ begins a lot more chilled out compared to the rest of the track list but plays an important part within it. This song feels like a self-realisation and what it feels like to gain that confidence and move on to better things whilst once again, displaying the sheer amount of vocal talent this band holds!  

This next track acts as the come down from the whirlwind of feelings the album takes us through. ‘Sweet Simple Thing,’ is an acoustic emotional song that explores the fear and anxiety that arises when you question where you are at in life; reflecting on the great experiences you’ve had but feeling closer to the end. Conjuring up this bittersweet mood, this is the perfect song to listen to after a long, rainy day staring out of your bedroom window.  

Finally, ‘Wave Goodbye’ is the last track on this cinematic project, holding a Beatles-meets-Empire of the Sun kind of vibe. This track is so uplifting, pure happiness in a song. The bedroom pop elements take you to a summer morning, being eternally grateful for the life you’ve had and accepting with happiness where you are now.  

The touching Death & Love Pt.2 by Circa Waves is available to stream from the 24th of October and you’re able to preorder your physical copy now!

Image Credit: Circa Waves