West Irish noise-punk group Nerves announced their second EP Iarmhaireacht, produced by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band), alongside the release of its second single, “Takes A Second”.

A mission statement for Iarmhaireacht, the song explores the final stage of a collapsing relationship, viewed through the lens of mental decline. As vocalist Kyle Thornton explains, “It’s the death knell of a romantic relationship – the acceptance that the bond now exists on borrowed time.” The track sets the tone for a record that navigates themes of mental illness, substance abuse, and emigration, against a backdrop of rural Irish life.

Lyrically, Iarmhaireacht is intensely personal yet deeply rooted in Irish history and culture. Through the use of archival samples – from old TV footage to folklore and podcasts – the EP draws a haunting parallel between past and present struggles in Ireland, a comment on history repeating itself. As vocalist Kyle Thornton explains, “Any older piece of media you find talking about mental health in the west of Ireland, emigration, the slow degradation of rural Ireland or issues with drinking culture, all have relevance to modern Ireland too. A recording from 1951 talking about how lack of jobs and emigration have left working class rural people feeling forgotten and abandoned has as much relevance in 2025 as it did then.”

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