Welcome to my hyperfixation land. ⭐⭐⭐⭐❤️❤️🎉🎉
Glasgow’s The Ninth Wave is a distinct niche in the modern post-punk/new-wave world. Their story is best told through the evolution of their records; each album marks a new emotional journey.
2019: Infancy
The band’s debut full-length album Infancy dropped on 15 November 2019, following a two-part rollout. Infancy was a bold statement from a young band exploring identity, heartbreak, and self-discovery. With its reverb-guitars, synths, and emotionally honest lyrics, the album earned critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year.
Tracks like “Used to Be Yours” — led by bassist Millie Kidd — showcased their capacity to combine vulnerability and moody sonic textures. Fun fact when filming a music video for one of the songs, they had to issue a public warning because they were throwing a dummy off a roof. This album also earned a nomination for the Scottish Album of the Year.
2020: Happy Days! (EP)
Between their two studio albums, The Ninth Wave released an EP titled Happy Days! in 2020.
Though shorter than a full album, this EP continued to deepen the emotional themes the band is known for. Its lead single “Everything Will Be Fine” struck a bittersweet chord: the optimism in the chorus paired with the darkness in the production felt both cathartic and unsettling.
The EP was well-received, also earning a nomination for the Scottish Album of the Year.
2022: Heavy Like a Headache
Their second full-length, Heavy Like a Headache, arrived on 11 March 2022 via Distiller Records. This record represented a huge creative and emotional development in their music. Produced by the band themselves and mixed by Max Heyes. This album dives into complex themes like grief, anxiety, loneliness, and anger.
Since I need more words for this word count I’ll talk a bit about a song in this one.
“What Makes You a Man” tackles consent and shame with raw honesty, combining harsh post-punk instrumentation with deeply personal lyrics:
“I don’t want to blame myself for the degrading actions of others anymore … I want to stand up to this shame … I’m just the one carrying it.” This song can be spotted in the Umbrella Academy season 3, that’s actually how I found this band <3
Shortly after Heavy Like a Headache dropped, the band announced an indefinite hiatus in 2022 and played what they described as a “possibly last ever” gig that March.
They did one singular Gig in May 2024 but there has been nothing since.
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Looking at The Ninth Wave’s discography in chronological order highlights their artistic growth: from youthful longing in Infancy, through uneasy hope on the Happy Days! EP, to broader emotional reckoning in Heavy Like a Headache. The albums they left behind stand as a testament to their emotional courage, musical ambition, and refusal to be simple or safe in the music industry. they still inspire people like me 🙂
pls give them a listen if you like punk rock….im like the only fan, REALLY like I’m the ONLY one…I’ve searched FAR AND WIDE…
I always knew you were a musical person Thea, with all the Vocaloid blogs. I’ll give them a listen!
I love music and listening to new music I never really sat and listened to punk rock I’m have to give it a try I recently discovered midwestern emo maybe I’ll like punk rock too!!