Alternative Rock from Covent

Formed by David Lees on vocals and guitar, Liam Sherwood on bass and Oliver Hunt on drums, Covent is a UK-based band that tears open their heart and hands you the pieces. The alternative rock outfit has been making an impact with a sound that sits in the space between melody and collapse, fusing the punch of post grunge with shoegaze’s hazy textures and the aching styling of Midwest emo, resulting in a musical output that feels like nostalgia viewed through a cracked lens.

Their sound draws on the sonic aesthetic of the 90s and early 2000s alternative greats while their emotional directness forms music that can only come from sitting with pain long enough to understand it. In 2017, they made their entrance, unveiling their studio sound with the debut double single “Alleviate // Deviate,” followed up by their first EP, Heaven Knows, a five-track release which landed the next year. Since then, they’ve continued to go from strength to strength, dropping a string of well-received singles over the years.

Now they bring us their latest release with their recent single titled “Safe,” a track that hits hard both sonically and emotionally. Built around stacks of driving guitars and an uptempo energy, it captures a sense of supercharged shoegaze smokiness cut with emotive songwriting and the directness of alternative rock. Stitched within the distortion, though, lies something far more fragile; the lyrics recount a tale of emotional dependence, of holding on to someone in the hope they can shield you from your own unraveling.

Ultimately, “Safe” is about comfort that turns brittle, about love that begins as shelter but becomes a mirror to your instability. It’s the sound of wanting protection, knowing it might not last but leaning anyway, distilling a grey area that bleeds into the music itself as the chorus soars and crashes with equal intensity and the verses float in moments of stillness.

The contrast feels deliberate, with power on the surface, deeper meaning underneath, all wrapped up in a wholly absorbing arrangement that’s utterly anthemic. Brought in by the mellow twang of lightly gritty guitar notes, the track erupts with the strike of drums as crunching guitars add layers of charging energy and splashing drums inject an engrossing rhythm. Capped by impassioned vocal leads carrying intricate melodic lines, the song flows through moments of stripped-back, dreamy vibes tinged with spacey vocal processing before launching into a thrilling burst of bouncy percussion, catchy vocal hooks and slick lead guitar textures.

Swelling to an epic passage of half-time rhythms and emotive vocals, it’s a sensational modern rock outing packed full of transportive atmosphere and engaging songwriting. It’s a superb showcase of the band’s unique sound and performance talent, serving up an emphatic musical moment that’s sure to win over fans across the UK and beyond.

Listen to Safe below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---