The Veils have been one of the most intriguing NZ bands around for nearly 20 years, creating passionate, emotive and intense music.

Their 2023 double album ‘…And Out of the Void Came Love’ proves no exception. The record was created in a period of uncertainty and change, with songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Finn Andrews unsure if The Veils would continue. This, along with the Covid pandemic and a new baby, fed into the music he was writing.

While grand in vision, ‘…And Out of the Void Came Love’ has a universal feel about it, looking outwards at the big themes like mortality, new life and existence, which colour the album. No Limit of Stars and World of Invisible Things are exquisite songs with an urgency about them but also a sense of wonder in the lyrics, which is reflected in the arrangement and production. A mix of delicate and visceral, the story telling so present in The Veils’ earlier records is here, with vivid fever dreams (Bullfighter (Hand of God)) and the Leonard Cohen-esque haunting tale of posession and regret, The Pearl (Part II).

For so long based in Europe, Andrews recorded at Roundhead and The Lab with producer Tom Healy, who created a sound that compliments the intensity in the music, but also pulls back when it needs to. The album is a collaborative work – The Veils (now with a new lineup that includes bassist Cass Mitchell and Healy on guitar) worked with composer Victoria Kelly on arrangements, and are joined by NZ Trio on strings, and UK duo The Smoke Fairies on backing vocals, with guest appearances from Dave Khan and Jol Mulholland. This is a stunning album full of beautifully written and performed treasures, The Veils have never sounded better and this may well be judged their best album yet.