EP REVIEW: nightsway. – It Could’ve Been Sweet

‘…a great example of how to introduce the world to your sound. ‘It Could’ve Been Sweet’ offers variety, but also has a clear sonic identity…’

North England outfit nightsway. only formed back in 2024, and yet have been working hard at carving out a niche for themselves in the indie scene. Performances across Liverpool, Manchester, and Leeds have seen them play to sold-out crowds at legendary local venues.

This month saw them release their debut EP, ‘It Could’ve Been Sweet’, which builds upon the two singles the band released last year with two more songs and a gorgeous instrumental introduction. The result is a debut EP that showcases a band with plenty of creativity, passion, and potential.

nightways. possesses a sound that sits comfortably between indie, alternative, and emo strains of rock. A wonderfully nostalgic feeling that permeates the entirety of this record, as if it forms the soundtrack to some coming-of-age film from the 90’s that you cannot quite remember the name of. ‘Unfortunate Kind‘ is an upbeat, rocking number that is –, whilst ‘Catalina‘ is a buoyant, bittersweet number that features some brilliant gang vocal segments and melodies that aim straight for the heart.

‘Belong With You‘ alternates between moments of spacious minimalism, built around glittering muted guitar passages, and choruses that crash down around the listener with a tremendously cinematic flair. There’s a real tenderness to the vocals that helps truly bring the longing and love at the heart of the track’s lyrics to life; there are no vocal acrobatics, nor complex melodic phrasings, but simply captivating, charming melodies that perfectly suit the track.

‘Lovers To Strangers‘ is a gorgeous closing number to the EP that really leans into the emo undercurrents of the band’s sound. Fuzzy guitars swirl beneath beautifully bittersweet melodies that effortlessly get you humming along, giving the track the feeling of a credits scroll. It is undoubtedly the highlight of the EP, with the soaring choruses being perfectly contrasted by verses that are weighty with groove.

What nightsway. achieve here is a great example of how to introduce the world to your sound. ‘It Could’ve Been Sweet’ offers variety, but also has a clear sonic identity that keeps it feeling cohesive; it is presented as a single piece of art as opposed to a scattered collection of singles, and is incredibly enjoyable because of that.

RATING: 75/100 – Mostly Very Good

For Fans Of: Turnstile, Snow Patrol,

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify