Also Eden released the excellent Holy Books and Credit Cards 1: Promises EP earlier this year, and they now follow up with the second of three planned EP’s in 2026. The band described their first EP as ‘a series of observations about how perceptions of events – from the very personal to the global – shape us into the people we are’ and that approach carries through into this impressive and engaging release.
For those that may be unfamiliar with Also Eden vocalist Huw Lloyd-Jones met keyboardist Ian Hodson in 1993 and their friendship eventually led to the formation of Also Eden in 2003. The band had a chequered history with some promising albums, but also bad luck with illness and accidents to band members which hindered their progress. They seemingly ground to a halt in 2013 with their last album [Redacted]. Members played in various other projects after that album, but it is great to see them back together as Also Eden for this high-quality release, which may indicate that Also Eden is their true spiritual musical home. This 27-minute EP is filled with a heady brew of rock and folky elements, framed in sweeping progressive rock passages.
Countless Millions pt1 opens this release gently with one of their ace cards – the gorgeous tones of Huw Lloyd-Jones intoning over the flowing folky acoustic guitar chords of Simon Rogers. Also Eden have shared that this opening number ‘reflects on how priorities are so easily swayed by external influences – religion, politics, money – often without regard to the enormous number of people who share our world and who don’t have a say in what these priorities should be’.
The sense of injustice is palpable in Lloyd-Jones’ impassioned singing, supported sensitively by the whole band, with some subtle piano from Ian Hodson. Sometimes the power of a song is not defined by the volume button but the artistry and passion that soaks through every note of such a striking and impactful song.
With a thrum of Eastern sounding guitar chords Countless Millions pt2 rolls in, opening out the theme of the previous piece more expansively. Also Eden have shared that this song “reflects on news reports about a… space mission and a comment from the US president in which he threatened to bomb a country ‘back to the stone age’. How could space exploration and such crude barbarity be featured in the same news programme? How did we get to this place?”
The intensity builds with sinister guitar chords ushering in the voice of Oliver Hodson, Ian Hodson’s ten-year old, asking questions, ending with ‘Are you happy with your choices?’ This ignites a crunching wave of metal guitar chords and thundering drums from Guy Monk, as Huw Lloyd-Jones chants repeatedly ‘Just say your prayers’. It is doubtful Also Eden have ever sounded this heavy! The darkness is lifted by a lyrically flowing guitar solo which merges into a keyboard passage and the whole band rises in apparent acclamation.
The tolling of a bell and echoing eerie synths welcomes in Waves, which Also Eden explains is “A simple story of a refugee – any refugee – who faces danger and terror to try to protect their family. This is not a political lyric: it is simply a reflection on how awful must things be before anyone would even try such extreme measures.”
The sense of fear is almost tangible in the edgy opening section as Huw Lloyd-Jones describes how desperate these refugees must be feeling to take such risks. The band say it is not a political lyric, which is curious, because to these ears it clearly is – if an artist has the imagination and insight to try to understand the life and motivations of refugees rather than blithely condemning them with over-simplified and ill-thought slogans then it is implicitly political, placing them squarely on the side of the compassionate.
Halfway through this thoughtful piece the tone changes into a more assertively rocking piece, featuring a breakdown passage with some controlled chaos from Graham Lane on bass and drummer Guy Monk as the whole band convey a sense of dislocation… and yet again Also Eden really rock here and it is so effective in conveying the drama at the heart of this piece. Rogers and Hodson trade guitar and keyboard licks furiously until like a dolphin emerging from the sea Hodson’s keyboards rise majestically from the musical waves to introduce a more hopeful and triumphant ending, joined by Rogers gracefully soaring guitar. It is a fantastic and clearly heart-felt piece.
Always Us is the impressive and engaging finale of Holy Books and Credit Cards 2: Waves, arriving with an acoustic guitar, joined with a great bass by Graham Lane and then Monk’s smooth drumming. Hodson’s synths then join, and then thrillingly take the lead with a real ear worm melody – just a great intro promising much.
Also Eden have shared that this song is the only survivor of material they developed during the Covid lockdown period which was going to be an album called Open Skies, which was abandoned as the lockdown was ‘old news’. They explain that “It is essentially a love song: not necessarily to a partner but to ‘us’: everyone who remembers.” This is clearly an inspired song as the whole band are on fine form, particularly Lloyd-Jones’ committed vocals… but this is more than just passion and commitment. This is a talented band intertwining magically in a driving rock song with inspirational melodies and hooks. Also Eden emphatically triumph with this outstanding finale.
Why have Also Eden taken the course of releasing three EP’s in 2026, rather than the more traditional full album release schedule. Huw Lloyd-Jones explained to TPA:
“Basically, as we’d been writing since lockdown, we had too much music for a single album and not enough ‘clout’ for a double (we felt). Also, the music business has moved on since the album-tour-album-tour days… So why not spread the load, so to speak? It’s less intense for us, less to shell out for manufacture and means we can carry on refining the material as we go. There will be a slip case available to anyone who buys all three…”
It is an interesting and different approach to production and release of material, and maybe they have a point these days? We will see.
However, whatever way you release music, it is irrelevant if the material is not up to standard. Most importantly, Also Eden have really come up with the goods on this second EP of the year. Holy Books and Credit Cards 1: Promises was a strong opening release in 2026 but with the follow-up Holy Books and Credit Cards 2: Waves Also Eden have taken their music on to a whole new level in which the whole band are locked into the groove of stylish performances of classy, meaningful songs, sung with a mixture of poise and power.
This may well be the finest release Also Eden have ever released, and personally I cannot wait for the third instalment in this series. Holy Books may not be needed at this point but certainly get your credit cards out for this outstanding release from Also Eden.
TRACK LISTING
01. Countless Millions pt1 (4:59)
02. Countless Millions pt2 (8:21)
03. Waves (7:15)
04. Always Us (6:29)
Total Time – 27:34
MUSICIANS
Huw Lloyd-Jones – Vocals
Simon Rogers – Guitars, Vocals
Ian Hodson – Keyboards, Vocals
Graham Lane – Bass Guitar, Vocals
Guy Monk – Drums, Percussion
~ With:
Oliver Hodson – Spoken Word (2)
Sharon Rogers – Vocals (4)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Independent
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 31st August 2026
DISCOGRAPHY
– About Time (2006)
– It’s Kind of You to Ask (2008)
– Differences as Light [EP] (2010)
– Think of the Children! (2011)
– [Redacted] (2013)
– Holy Books and Credit Cards 1: Promises [EP] (2026)
– Holy Books and Credit Cards 2: Waves [EP] (2026)
