“Fear and Control” - NIEVES
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
There’s something electric about a band’s comeback — especially when it feels earned. After a six-year break, Glasgow’s NIEVES return with “Fear and Control,” a song that channels every drop of pent-up energy, creative hunger, and emotional honesty that’s been simmering beneath the surface since their hiatus.
Formed a decade ago in the beating heart of Glasgow’s music scene, NIEVES — Brendan, Herre, Martin, and Ross — have long been known for their sweeping, atmospheric soundscapes and soul-stirring lyricism. Their music always carried that distinctive Scottish indie DNA: poetic yet grounded, anthemic yet intimate. Now, with “Fear and Control,” the band re-emerges sharper, heavier, and more focused than ever.
The new single, dropped October 17th, feels like a statement — a reintroduction that says, we’re back, and we’ve still got something to say. Produced by Bruce Rintoul (Fatherson, Twin Atlantic, Vukovi), the track brims with the kind of power and clarity that only comes from experience. Rintoul’s production gives the song space to breathe and explode in equal measure — lush textures give way to towering choruses, while Brendan’s vocals cut straight to the bone, equal parts vulnerability and defiance.
At its core, “Fear and Control” grapples with dualities — anxiety and release, restraint and rebellion. It’s a song that mirrors the feeling of finding your footing again after time away: that tension between the familiar and the unknown, the comfort of returning and the thrill of rediscovering who you’ve become. There’s an undercurrent of catharsis throughout.
For longtime fans, the track carries a sense of nostalgia — echoes of the band’s earlier material, that cinematic melancholy and lyrical tenderness, still pulse beneath the surface. But this time around, there’s a new fire in their sound.
What makes this comeback particularly exciting is the context. NIEVES aren’t just dropping a single — they’re reigniting a story. With two new tracks recorded and a Scotland tour on the horizon (Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen this November), the band are clearly stepping back into their element.
Being back in the studio after six years was more than a creative exercise — it was a rediscovery of joy. “Incredible to be back in the studio,” the band shared. “Being creative and enjoying writing music again.” That energy bleeds through every second of “Fear and Control.” It’s not just a polished return — it’s a raw, heartfelt surge of gratitude and momentum.
In a music landscape that often prizes speed and constant output, NIEVES’ return reminds us of something vital — that art made with patience, perspective, and sincerity will always hit harder. “Fear and Control” isn’t just a comeback track. It’s a pulse.
For fans of Fatherson, Twin Atlantic, Biffy Clyro, and The National, this single will feel like coming home — a rush of emotion wrapped in soaring sound. NIEVES are back not to revisit the past, but to carve out something even bolder for the future.
“Fear and Control” is available now on all major streaming platforms
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
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