TODAY we are delighted to bring you the premiere of ‘When The Love Rots Out’ by The Wound Review.

Originally from the Highlands but now based in Glasgow, Steven Melens and Jamie Colthart call on their collective musical experience to craft expansive, deeply emotional soundscapes that dig deep into the soul.

Since releasing their debut single ‘Lately’ a year ago, the duo have unveiled a self-titled EP and supported the likes of Van Ives and Be Charlotte on tour. Now they’re looking to re-gain some of that hard-fought momentum with a stunning track that was recorded pre-lockdown alongside Paul McInally at 45-Aside Recordings.

‘When The Love Rots Out’ feels incredibly intimate yet expansive at the same time. With airs of Bon Iver in its soft, meticulously crafted production, deep contemplative vocals are wonderfully juxtaposed by a light airy backdrop of twinkling electronics, programmed vocals and percussive layers. And while its stark title doesn’t leave much to the imagination, it’s a carefully rendered depiction of how it feels to leave a toxic relationship behind – the circular thoughts, the self-analysation, the self-blame and finally the relief of closure. Conjuring depths of emotion with every listen, it’s a quiet moment of reflection that ultimately breeds a sense yearning optimism and catharsis.

They said “When The Love Rots Out’ was written about similar situations that both of us have experienced in the past during toxic relationships and the journey that we both have taken to try and get over it –  from the initial over-analysing of every conversation, running through every possible alternate scenario thinking about what you could have done different and blaming yourself, to that love eventually rotting away and the realisation that as much as you would love to be comforted by this person, you deserve better.  Unfortunately, these feelings stick and resurface when you least expect it, ‘When The Love Rots Out’ is our way of channeling them into something creative.

“At the time of writing we were both listening to an artist called Tamu Massif who includes home recorded samples in his music.  This is the first song where we experimented with layering percussive sounds, reversed guitar and samples processed to the point they are unrecognisable (there is even a gospel vocal sample hidden in song, believe it or not).  Our vision was a track that was anticlimatic but always teasing with new hooks and different sounds subtly entering and exiting the mix.

“Once we had the demo finished we took it to our friend and producer, Paul McInally, at 45 A-Side Recordings.  We went in with a direction and vision for the song and as usual Paul captured it beautifully.  He knows how to pick out a hook and develop it.  Every time we go into the studio we keep an open mind, experiment, and give Paul a lot of free rein.  This means trying as many new ideas, melodies, sounds and instruments as fast as possible and revisiting later.  A lot of the original sounds are still in the final version to capture the essence of the song.”

‘When The Love Runs Out’ will be released on all main streaming platforms tomorrow. Check out the exclusive premiere below.