After a standout year in 2024, Pleiades return with their new single CV5 (Constant Variation). Recorded in their hometown of Manchester between festival appearances at ArcTanGent, Strangeforms, and Portals, the track marks the band’s first release since their 2023 debut album Affinity With.

While their previous work delved into expressive narratives and folklore, this new phase of Pleiades focuses on the band’s collective roots. The concept of hiraeth—a bittersweet longing for home—permeates their upcoming collection, with each song reflecting the hometowns of individual band members.

The first track “CV5” pays homage to guitarist Andrew Packwood’s Coventry roots, blending reflective, progressive elements with the raw intensity of post-hardcore. The track strikes a perfect balance between nostalgia and aggression, capturing the reckless energy of youth alongside the depth of lived experience. Musically, it’s captivating—the intricate guitar work pulls you in, while the vocals deliver a raw, visceral energy that adds an extra layer of intensity to Pleiades’ sound. The drums hit with the force of a freight train, shifting effortlessly from explosive blast beats to complex, mathy patterns, driving the track forward with relentless energy. If this is a glimpse of what’s to come, Pleiades’ upcoming release is sure to be an exciting one!

Andrew shares:

“The song highlights the changing faces and feelings of a life growing up in – and subsequently returning to – Coventry. Coventry was dominated by post war architecture and a feeling of slow decline. Now, the city is rejuvenated and friends are deeply involved in DIY arts and culture all across the city. Its rejuvenation makes me proud of everyone involved but leaves a lingering sadness that I’m not there to be a part of it”