Wax on Water are Maya Damaris and Steven Blessing – an Alternative Rock duo from London, who have always taken a different path from the identikit rock groups that exist on the scene. Drawing inspiration from a range of genres – they boldly fuse elements from electronica, metal, grunge, goth and Industrial music and nowhere is this seen more intensely than in their fiendishly good new five track EP ‘Ghouls & Fiends and In-Betweens…’ which is released alongside the focus track and first single ‘Ghouls & Fiends’ on 14th October 2022.

The ‘Ghouls & Fiends and In-Betweens…’ EP follows their sophomore album “The Drip” which was released in the summer of 2022 to universal critical acclaim and solidified Wax on Water’s place as rising stars of the alternative rock scene.

‘The Drip’ garnered US College radio success for the band and this bold collection of songs follows suit and easily moves between radio friendly tracks like ‘Ghouls & Fiends’ and ‘Deadbeat Guy’ to the haunting ballad ‘Part of Me’ and ‘Guanciale’ and ‘More Than I’ – the kind of darkly melodic driving rock gems that Wax on Water are known for.

Written, arranged and produced by lead singer Maya Damaris, “Ghouls & Fiends and In-Betweens…” is an exploration of shadow worlds and thoughts and how they define us in the ‘real’ world. The tracks are imbued with impeccable rock guitar magic from wingman Steven Blessing and Drums were played by up and coming London session musician Matt Chivers. The EP was mixed by ex-Fields of the Nephilim guitarist Paul Miles at his London based Select Studios and mastered by Will Borza from the Grammy-award winning Howie Weinberg Mastering Studios, Los Angeles.

First track, and first single, ‘Ghouls & Fiends’ proffers the concept that such horrors are actually imagined and ‘in your brain’ (hence the Ghoul licking a brain in the eye-catching cover artwork by London artist Dave Swan). ‘Guanciale (Mark of the Vampire)’ is inspired by the famous 1935 Bela Lugosi film ‘Mark of the Vampire’, a seminal film in the Hollywood Horror Pantheon, and is told from the perspective of a Vampire recounting otherworldly experiences and ultimately seeking revenge. The following, more playful, track is ‘Deadbeat Guy’ – a trippy far-out concept about meeting your own ego/id as an imagined character that you reconcile with. The wistful lament ‘Part of Me’ is a true love song for outsiders – underscored by Damaris’ haunting vocals – and the final track, ‘More Than I’, posits the idea that being fearful of your own thoughts in turn enables shadow thoughts to grow ever bigger.

Damaris’ says: “Following The Drip, which was a really intense writing and recording experience, we wanted to have fun and create an EP where we could explore darker subjects but also create a sonic language which had light and shade – and in some cases, have a levity to the songs, without detracting from the subject matter…”

Ever unconventional and relentlessly prolific, Wax on Water fearlessly deliver yet another body of work that doesn’t fail to tantalise and surprise and, perhaps more importantly, expertly holds up a large mirror for us to examine our own demons, ghouls and fiends.

THE EP ON SPOTIFY:

Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Xizvk1AloMul9UyqvM6E1?si=JCA5K2cRSnOBvP_oevyINA