Ahead of the release of their seventh studio album, ‘Asphodels’, The Veils share their stirring new single “Mortal Wound”, pairing twinkling keys and soaring strings with vivid lyrics about the restorative powers of love.
“This is a song about the quietly held hope that love is fundamentally a healing force”, shares Finn Andrews, “It’s by far the most bombastic song on the record, which is strange because, in many ways, it has the gentlest sentiment of them all. I like that the title sounds like a 90s goth band – it’s an intentionally misleading title which amused me anyway.”
“This song was recorded on a beautiful Steinway grand which had just been shipped down here to New Zealand from the Royal Festival Hall in London – I’m told it was the same piano that Nina Simone performed on at her infamously brilliant Meltdown festival performance many moons ago. Anyway, I couldn’t help but think about her hands while I was playing it.”
English/New Zealand singer songwriter Finn Andrews signed to Rough Trade at 16 years old and has gone onto release seven studio albums, as well as the solo album ‘One Piece At A Time’. Praised as one of finest songwriters of his generation, fans include cult film directors Paolo Sorrentino, Tim Burton and David Lynch. All have used The Veils music in their soundtracks.
The new album ‘Asphodels’ ‘takes its name from the Ancient Greek flower of the Underworld. Lyrically, Andrews draws more from poets like Federico García Lorca, Ted Hughes and Louis MacNeice than he does from the well of more traditional rock and roll songwriters. The collaboration between Andrews and string arranger Victoria Kelly is also a central aspect to the record, and as with the band’s previous album ‘…And Out Of The Void Came Love’, Kelly plays a large role in bringing the songs to life.
Following their 2023 album ‘…And Out Of The Void Came Love’, The Veils’ seventh full-length album, ‘Asphodels’ gives a real sense of self-reflection and private reckoning.
The Veils debut album ‘The Runaway Found’ turned 20 last year which provided lead singer/songwriter Finn Andrews with a healthy dose of existential dread:
“I feel as though this album is the end result of a now disconcertingly long career in music,” says Andrews. “I think after your 7th album, much like turning 40, you should really just stop counting. I’ve learned a lot along the way, which I suppose is the whole point, and I’ve really distilled it all into these 9 songs.”
The Veils have released seven studio albums: ‘The Runaway Found’ (2004), ‘Nux Vomica’ (2006), ‘Sun Gangs’ (2009), ‘Time Stays We Go’ (2013), ‘Total Depravity’ (2016), ‘…And Out Of The Void Came Love’ (2023), and ‘Asphodels’ (2025). Finn’s debut solo album ‘One Piece At A Time’ was released in 2019.
The Veils have toured consistently throughout their twenty-year career and gained a formidable reputation as one of the world’s greatest live bands. They will tour the UK in February 2025.
UK TOUR DATES 2025
Sun 16 February – Manchester – Yes (Pink Room)
Mon 17 February – Bristol – Thekla
Tue 18 February – London – Union Chapel
TICKETS HERE
