The Ninth Wave return with new single "Bitumen" - out now on Rock Action
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Following a 4 year hiatus, Glasgow’s The Ninth Wave are back with new music marking a brand new era. New single “Bitumen” is the first release from the band since their acclaimed second album “Heavy Like a Headache”. Now signed to Mogwai's legendary indie label Rock Action Records, The Ninth Wave are stripping away the synth layers, bringing forward a remarkably immediate and raw sound while building on the dark, emotive grandeur that built them a loyal following.
The single was recorded during the summer of 2026 in Black Bay Studio, situated on the remote Hebridean island of Great Bernera. Alongside long-time producer Dan Austin (Massive Attack, Pixies), who worked on the band’s debut album "Infancy", the band approached the recording process of the song in a markedly different style to their previous output.
Shifting the focus from synthesisers, drum machines and surgical recording precision, "Bitumen" sees the band flip the script on the recording process, going back to basics: four members playing live in a room and embracing the energy of in-the-moment performance. The result is a renewed vitality and sharpness, amplifying the song's emotional intensity. Bitumen is about second-guessing someone’s feelings and being aware of the temporary nature of love when it’s founded on uncertainty.