“Mirrors & Ecstacy” - Valvet
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Out November 14th, 2025, Valvet’s new EP “Mirrors & Ecstasy” is the sound of a young band coming fully into focus — confident, introspective, and emotionally explosive all at once. Across four striking tracks, the Swedish quartet balances melancholy and euphoria, vulnerability and defiance.
If their 2022 debut Valvbum1 introduced Valvet as ambitious newcomers, “Mirrors & Ecstasy” plants their flag firmly in the modern alt-rock landscape. Drawing inspiration from the widescreen dynamics of Kings of Leon and Nothing But Thieves, the atmospheric experiments of Alt-J, and the melodic precision of Kent, Valvet channel all those influences into something distinctly their own — Swedish indie rock with cinematic soul and emotional grit.
The EP opens with “Mountains” a beautifully tense reflection on identity and isolation. Its layered guitars shimmer like light through fog, while the vocal harmonies soar above the weight of the lyrics. It’s a stunning entry point.
Then comes “Half Measure,” the emotional heart of the record. There’s desperation in every echo, every reverb-drenched guitar line, as if the track itself is trying to hold on to something fading away. It’s a cinematic slow-burner — one of those songs that grows in size the more quietly it begins.
“Giving It Up” delivers a rush of release. It’s the EP’s moment of uplift — pop-rock energy breaking through the clouds, hope flickering at the edges of melancholy. Think of it as the sound of running toward daylight after a long night. It’s the band at their most anthemic and accessible, and it’s likely the track that will cement them on playlists far beyond Sweden.
Finally, “Falling” hits harder — an emotional collision of drums, distortion, and existential fear. It’s a song about losing grip, about the moments when control slips through your fingers no matter how tight you hold on. The band’s chemistry is undeniable here; they sound like a unit that’s been playing together for a decade, each note pushing the others closer to collapse — and catharsis.
Valvet’s music thrives on contrasts — delicate harmonies meet walls of guitars, pop sensibility collides with rock aggression, pain meets hope. Their production is crisp yet human; you can feel the DIY roots of four classmates from Lund still lingering underneath the polished surface. The result is a sound that’s emotional without melodrama, ambitious without artifice.
“Mirrors & Ecstasy” explores the tension between reflection and release — how we see ourselves, how we hide behind beauty, and how sometimes chaos becomes catharsis. It’s a theme that feels universal, especially in a world constantly teetering between connection and collapse.
Credit: creative copyright - Irma Kasimir
There’s a long tradition of emotionally cinematic indie rock from Sweden — from Kent to The Royal Concept — and Valvet seem poised to carry that torch forward. Signed now to Rexius Records, the band takes their lush, heartfelt style and pushes it into widescreen territory. You can almost see the lights, the silhouettes, the crowd swaying in slow motion.
Their past as high school friends gives their music a sense of shared history, something that bleeds through in the way the instruments talk to one another. It’s not just musicianship — it’s trust. And that trust translates into an emotional authenticity that few young bands pull off this naturally.
“Mirrors & Ecstasy” is more than a title — it’s the essence of Valvet’s sound. Reflection and rush. Grit and grace. Pain and release. It’s a record that feels both nostalgic and forward-looking, crafted for late-night introspection and festival singalongs.
Valvet may have started in a small studio in Lund, but with this EP, they sound ready for the world.
“Mirrors & Ecstacy” is available now on all major streaming platforms
