Cork-based outfit Ways of Seeing are back with their latest single ‘Cruel, Naturally’ ahead of the release of their forthcoming sophomore album via Joyful Hour Records. With Christian Best behind the desk and Daniel Fox of Gilla Band on mixing duties, the band issues a powerful, raw anthem that is sure to turn heads.
Wasting no time, the single rips into crashing guitar riffs with an ironclad, post-punk fury as Ways of Seeing luck to establish themselves as a boundary-pushing alternative outfit. Blending reverb-laden melodies with vulnerable, honest lyrics, ‘Cruel, Naturally’ sports a wildly cathartic backbone. The single sports a host of musical influences; after just a few spins, the record oozes sounds from the likes of The Smiths, Fontaines DC, Shame, and a whole host of others. Despite this, the group doesn’t forget to lace the track with their distinctive, intimate yet cathartic glow.
Commenting on the influence and artistry behind the single, vocalist James dives in, “‘Cruel, Naturally’ explores the idea of inherited trauma—the emotional patterns and unresolved wounds that pass from one generation to the next, often without intention or awareness. It was inspired in part by Philip Larkin’s This Be The Verse — the song delves into the tension between empathy and burden, love and legacy. The song unfolds in fragments: glimpses of childhood, disillusionment in adulthood, and that creeping realisation that some experiences never fade. I suppose the line ‘No one ever makes it, to save themselves and save the born’ sums up the difficulty of breaking cycles while carrying this weight. The song recognises the rage that can come with that burden and the quiet resignation that often follows. It also points to the subtler inheritances—silence, emotional absence, or unspoken expectation—that shape people just as powerfully as obvious trauma.”
‘Cruel, Naturally’ by Ways of Seeing is out now, you can check it out below…
