REVIEW: Winter Gardens - Macabre Divine
Brighton based band WINTER GARDENS have been captivating listeners through their distinctive ‘dreampunk’ soundscapes for over half a decade, earning them commendation from numerous press and radio organisations such as the BBC, as well as opportunities opening for the likes of MODERN ENGLISH, PIROSHKA and PALE BLUE EYES. The four-piece pioneered this feat through EPs Tapestry (2020) and Uncomfortable/Unlovable (2025), which drew attention from infectious, promising early songs such as Anthropocene, and are now ready to further push themselves into the scene with their third project, Macabre Divine.
This EP picks apart the greatest elements of their previous work to guide the listener through a highly immersive, emotionally gripping musical journey, one that combines crushing atmospheres from the likes of ETHEL CAIN with the grandiosity of acts like MARUJA. This five-track record is brimming with angst, exploring themes of belonging and despair, challenging the listener while blessing them with stellar instrumentals and perfectly ethereal vocals from frontwoman Ananda Howard.
Immediately a nostalgic tinge of 80s rock invades you as the bittersweet sounding lead single Adored opens the EP. This powerful initiation gives a clear sense of what to expect from this project, eccentric drums, soaring guitars, lush, soft vocals and an almost foreboding production, particularly glowing within the harmonic chorus. Adored delves into the burden of corporate masculinity, with the band stating, “it reflects the frustration of trying to be heard in environments where volume and ego tend to outweigh substance”, a matter directly addressed through the poignant lyricism.
Transitioning from frustration to grief, second single Fragile Boy depicts the speaker mourning a person’s past life, coming to terms with how this individual has changed over time, as if their old self has died. This theme is accompanied by an intensely painful tone, with the track being a slower, sorrowful melody in nature, as Ananda cries out soulfully for this person. The track starts out a little awkwardly, featuring a unique time signature in the form of clapping that creates a sense of unbalance, as if battling with one’s emotions, and it’s tricky to get a feel for the tone of the song until a minute in, where the chorus plays a huge role in progressing the song into a beautifully delicate vibe, and from then on you can truly get lost in the sombre atmosphere.
Violet Corridors may be regarded as an instrumental interlude in the heart of the EP, but it’s a satisfying, calming couple of minutes that features a really pleasant collection of orchestral elements and synthy goodness before moving on to the most adventurous tracks, The Yearning and Macabre Divine. The former of the two is an enchanting piece, channelling overwhelming human desires and desperate loneliness in a beautifully poetic display of lyricism, and an excellent composition sonically, likely the clearest example of the collective strengths between the minds behind the record. The splashy drums and noisy production that builds throughout the track lead to an impactful release in the climax of the song, though one aspect that feels underutilised is Ananda’s vocal power, which sees little change in delivery in a position where elevated emotion in the vocals seems paramount in completing the release of built-up pain within our speaker.
Lastly, the lengthy title track Macabre Divine bursts into life with further hints of inspiration from 80s post-punk and synthpop, expressing a more politically driven theme with lines such as “their pockets lined, from the massacre inside”, while embracing the inevitability of death. The heartfelt, eloquent atmosphere created here builds in a grandiose manner, erupting with blazing cymbals and deep, irresistible guitars, complimented by luscious soaring vocals, in a somewhat hopeful sound, contrasting the previous tones of the EP, wrapping up the project in a heavenly ensemble. Macabre Divine is the release of the tension built up throughout the record and feels like a natural and satisfying conclusion.
Despite being a fairly short project, Macabre Divine translates as a cohesive, complete narrative, even if these songs aren’t intended to work as a collective, which demonstrates how WINTER GARDENS have practically perfected their ethereal style, and the criticisms that can be found within the writing and performances are minor. With a little bit more flavour sonically and time to complete a full-length narrative, there is a very good chance this band can truly blow our minds in the near future.
Score: 8/10
Macabre Divine will be released on 16th September 2026.
Words: Paul Cutts
Photos: Suki Park
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