DULAKES FIND POWER IN THE SHADOWS ON DEBUT EP FIREFLIES

EP REVIEW | DULAKES – FIREFLIES by Myles Pearson

Powered by thunderous drums and epic vocals, dulakes have crashed onto the music scene with their debut EP, Fireflies.

Formed in 2024, dulakes are still in the early stages of their development. However, Fireflies sounds more assured than that timeline might suggest. Recorded at Sickroom Studios in Norfolk, the EP brings together songs written at different points in the band’s short history.

With a brooding bassline, ‘Thunderstorms’ opens the EP and pulls you straight into the world of dulakes. You immediately hear echoes of Stereophonics in the commanding vocals, but dulakes adds a melancholic edge that makes the track feel less polished and more emotionally unsettled. Tension runs beneath it all, giving the song a demanding unpredictability.

There is a hint of Wunderhorse too, particularly in the meeting point between melody and raw energy. ‘Thunderstorms’ feels powerful without relying on constant noise. That restraint makes its heavier moments more effective. Instead of revealing everything at once, the track suggests something could break through at any moment.

‘Think’ shows how important each member is to the overall sound. The guitars provide the bite, but the drums and bass stop them from dominating. The rhythm section gives the track its momentum, creating a sense of urgency without forcing it forward.

That balance runs through the wider EP. The performances retain a rough edge, but nothing sounds carelessly assembled. Each instrument is impactful without overpowering the others. dulakes have built these songs with precision while resisting the temptation to polish away their fascinating unease.

At the centre of the record, ‘Fireflies’ turns towards reassurance and self-sacrifice. These themes give the EP’s darkness a more personal meaning, revealing that the weight in dulakes’ music is emotional as well as musical. Even the title suggests brief moments of light appearing within something much darker.

Songwriters Ramsay Irwin and Joseph Rainbow use the record to explore youth, relationships and uncertainty. Those subjects are hardly new territory for guitar music, though dulakes approach them without unnecessary drama. The emotion comes through in the contrast between the band’s strong melodies and the unease sitting beneath them.

Released on 14th August as the fourth single from the EP, ‘Candlelight’ offers another glimpse into the darker world dulakes have created. It carries the record’s rawness into its closing stages while showing that the band’s power comes from more than simply turning up the volume.

That live quality is important to dulakes. Having already sold out headline shows in their home city of Leeds, they make music which feels built for small, crowded venues. However, Fireflies doesn’t rely on volume alone. The songs remain detailed enough to reward closer listening, particularly in the relationship between the guitar work and the rhythm section.

The band’s influences are easy to identify. Alongside Wunderhorse and Stereophonics, it also carries touches of the darker textures of Smashing Pumpkins and Title Fight. Though Fireflies is most interesting when dulakes combines those reference points rather than leaning too heavily on any one of them.

Ramsay Irwin’s vocals and rhythm guitar sit alongside Joseph Rainbow’s lead guitar, with bassist James Gavin and drummer Nat Dowding providing more than background support. The production allows all four members to contribute. The result is a full sound without reducing the songs to a wall of distortion. That separation is one reason the EP can feel heavy without becoming exhausting.

Fireflies is an impressive debut because it doesn’t try to prove too much. dulakes already understand their strengths, particularly their ability to mix dark emotion with melody. Still, their sound could develop in several directions. The EP captures them at a point where their influences remain visible, yet something more individual is beginning to emerge.

Heavy without becoming overwhelming and melancholic without losing its spark, Fireflies is a bold introduction to dulakes. The EP captures a band that already knows how to make an impact, while leaving themselves plenty of room to evolve. With a blend of raw emotion and impressive restraint, dulakes have built a strong foundation for whatever comes next.

Fireflies will be released on all major streaming platforms on 25th September.