Their sound has been compared to artists as diverse as Jeff Buckley, The Birthday Party, The Smiths, and Joy Division. Their live shows have become famed for their emotional intensity and Finn's often scarily possessed stage presence and his unique singing voice.
They released their debut album, The Runaway Found, in Spain late in 2003. The first single from the album, Lavinia, was released through Rough Trade on November 24, 2003. They released the album globally in January 2004 with a different track listing. It went gold worldwide the following year.
The original lineup of The Veils (which included Oli Drake, Ben Woollacott and Adam Kinsella) disbanded in late 2004, and Andrews returned to New Zealand in order to find a new lineup. He spent the New Zealand summer rehearsing with high school classmates Liam Gerrard (keyboards) and Sophia Burn (bass), and the trio returned to London early 2005. There they got connected to Dan Raishbrook (Guitar) and Henning Dietz (drums). However Liam Gerrard left the band half way into their American tour in 2007.
The group recorded their second album Nux Vomica at Underbelly Studios in Los Angeles, with producer Nick Launay, and the album was released September 18, 2006. The album features string arrangements by ex-Lounge Lizard and long time Lou Reed collaborator Jane Scarpontoni. Nux Vomica featured on 9 critics' Best Of The Year lists in 2006.
In the 16 months following the release of Nux Vomica The Veils played over 250 shows across 15 countries and during the U.S. leg of the tour it was announced that keyboardist Liam Gerrard would leave the band to return home to New Zealand due to personal reasons. The Veils carried on as a four piece and, whilst living out of a classic car garage in Oklahoma City, started recording new demos between playing shows on the east and west coasts of the America. By mid-2008 they were back to London to begin work on their third album with producer Graham Sutton. The recording sessions at West Point Studios lasted only three weeks and at the end of the summer the album was done and ready to be mixed. In March 2009 they began touring the new songs in Europe and America with new drummer Raife Burchell (of Jetplane Landing), after Henning Dietz' defection. Sun Gangs was released on April 6 2009 and was featured in many websites top albums of 2009.
The band spent the summer of 2010 working on new material. On December 6 it was announced that a new 7 song EP entitled Troubles of the Brain is set to be released on January 24, and that the band had left Rough Trade after almost 9 years and started their own label, Pitch Beast Records. The EP is produced by Finn Andrews and Bernard Butler and was recorded at Finn's home studio in London.
In mid 2012 The Veils threatened legal action on UK hardcore band Veils due to the similarity in name. This forced Veils to alter the spelling of their name to Vales.
The Veils released their next album in april 2013 titled , ‘Time Stays, We Go’ in April 2013. Three years later Total Depravity (2016) saw the daylight.
In 2016 David Lynch revealed that Finn would appear in the new series of Twin Peaks due to air early 2017.
In 2023 The Veils released ...And Out of the Void Came Love after a long struggle with songwriting that only came together after the birth of Andrews' first child. The COVID pandemic had seen the departure of longtime members Dietz and Burn (who had been the longest continuous presence in the band after Andrews) and the arrival of Tiny Ruins bassist Cass Basil.
More Heat Than Light
The Veils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They've been burning down the ghettos burning down the ghettos
Crossing all
Of the lines
And everyone gets so excited as it all start to rise
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More it than light
They've been spitting on the mirage in the back of the van
If he can do it if he can do it if he can do it
I think anybody can
They've been polishing the dolphin you've never seen a beast so bright
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More heat than light
All you funny little men
With that fever in your eyes
You say put them with the others
You should never analyse
He fucked the watermelon women like a thief in the night
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More heat than light
The Veils' song More Heat Than Light is a dark, scathing commentary on the decline of the imperial disaster, where those in power are burning down the ghettos and crossing all the lines. The lyrics highlight the excitement that people feel as they watch it all start to rise, but it becomes clear that the excitement is fueled by more heat than light. The phrase "more heat than light" implies that although there is a lot of energy and passion in the situation, there is not much clarity or understanding. It is all a show, a mirage, and a deception.
The second verse of the song continues the theme, with the suggestion that anyone can do what they're doing - spitting on the mirage, polishing the dolphin - and make it seem brighter and more significant than it really is. The imagery is unsettling and bizarre, evoking a sense of corruption and decay. The lyrics eventually land on the image of "watermelon women," which seems to represent something beautiful that's been destroyed or perverted. In the end, the song is a condemnation of those who wield power without thought for the consequences or for the people that they hurt along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
The imperial disaster's in a furious decline
The disastrous system of power is collapsing at an alarming pace.
They've been burning down the ghettos burning down the ghettos
Ruthless authorities have been destroying poor neighborhoods and oppressing marginalized communities.
Crossing all of the lines
The oppressors have overstepped boundaries and disregarded basic human rights.
And everyone gets so excited as it all starts to rise
People are easily swayed by the chaos and violence, and forget about the human cost of the situation.
All the time all the time radiating
This harmful behavior continues constantly and without end.
More heat than light
The actions are driven by anger, aggression, and destruction, rather than constructive solutions or enlightenment.
They've been spitting on the mirage in the back of the van
The perpetrators have been disrespecting and disregarding a dream or illusion that was once seen as important.
If he can do it if he can do it if he can do it
The situation has become so dire that even the most unlikely individuals are engaging in harm and violence.
I think anybody can
The barrier to such harmful behavior has been shattered, and now it seems anyone can engage in it.
They've been polishing the dolphin you've never seen a beast so bright
They have been shining up and glamorizing something or someone for the sake of appearance, but there may be darkness lurking underneath.
All you funny little men with that fever in your eyes
Addressing those who are complicit in this destructive behavior, who may have a dangerous glint in their eyes.
You say put them with the others
The perpetrators are dismissive of the people they are harming, saying they should be lumped together with other marginalized groups.
You should never analyze
The oppressors discourage critical thinking and reflection on the situation, preferring blind obedience and violent action.
He fucked the watermelon women like a thief in the night
A graphic and disturbing image that highlights sexual violence and exploitation in the context of chaos and lawlessness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREWS BARRY ANTHONY, CARL MARSH, FINN ANDREWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Caio Ary
I would love to see them live, such energy!
Barron
That song kicks you right in the teeth
Andrea Marcellini
Banger!
SPUD CROWLEY
Great upload!
Ad Lazy
finally som1 uploaded this :D awesome song ...
J Turon
So...Someone can have a go at explaining the meaning of the lyrics?
J Turon
@Dan Z Thanks bro!
Dan Z
Here's my quick interpretation without going into subtext, songwriter's biography, what was happening in terms of news/events, etc.
The imperial disaster's in a furious decline
They've been burning down the ghettos burning down the ghettos
Crossing all
Of the lines
And everyone gets so excited as it all start to rise
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More heat than light
(The age in which control of the world was falling apart is ending (use of double negative 'disaster' and 'decline'). Despite people becoming more aware and enraged at the injustice, all the effort is for nothing... there is no change.)
They've been spitting on the mirage in the back of the van
If he can do it if he can do it if he can do it
I think anybody can
(People have been fuelling their own illusions that they are taking back control from the "masters".)
They've been polishing the dolphin you've never seen a beast so bright
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More heat than light
(And spent so much time making themselves feel good (polishing the dolphin is slang for masturbation) but doing nothing to actually affect change)
All you funny little men
With that fever in your eyes
You say put them with the others
You should never analyse
(The masters maintain control and are drunk on power. They keep us enslaved and teach us not to question.)
He fucked the watermelon women like a thief in the night
All the time all the time radiating
More heat than light
More heat than light
(They take advantage of their subservients (watermelon woman is slang for Black Slave 'mammies') with great skill and stealth. And trick us with distraction in the disguise of care.)
Rohith Eppepalli
john green sent me here