Howling Bells - Howling Bells Howling Bells

Howling Bells celebrate the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed self-titled debut album with its first-ever vinyl release.

Twenty years after the release of one of the most captivating albums of the 2000s, Howling Bells announce the 20th Anniversary Edition of their self-titled debut album, released on 2nd October via Nude Records.

Originally released in 2006, Howling Bells marked a striking debut for the Australian band. Produced by Grammy Award-winning Ken Nelson (Coldplay, Gomez, The Charlatans), the album introduced their cinematic blend of darkly romantic songwriting, atmospheric guitars and Juanita Stein's unmistakable vocals.

Hailed upon release as a modern alternative classic, Pitchfork praised Stein's "thoroughly unexpected, confidently strange, and immediately commanding voice", while NME simply called it "an extraordinary album". The Guardian described it as "bruising, narcotised rock'n'roll, refracted through the bottom of a glass, darkly... on the verge of unequivocal magnificence". MOJO celebrated "an utterly flawless, heart-twisting vocal throughout," praising her ability to turn "tales of sorrow and betrayal" into "something exquisite", while Clash observed that "it's the voice that grabs you", calling it "a wonderfully lucid piece of songwriting, emotion lingering on each note."

Twenty years later, the album retains its intoxicating magic. The opening seconds still pull you in, and the record still refuses to let go. For the first time on vinyl, listeners can experience one of the great alternative debuts of its era in a format worthy of its enduring legacy.

"OK, now I can finally listen to Setting Sun on vinyl and be reminded all over again why I love Howling Bells." — Chris Martin

"There was a time when we thought great records would just keep rolling in. We didn't realize we were living in a golden age until it was gone. Twenty years later, Howling Bells stands as a testament to what we've been missing." — Brandon Flowers

"A haunting, beautiful and at times emotionally brutal debut by one of alt-rock's unsung talents." — Brett Anderson

"Listening to Howling Bells' debut album was a cultural awakening for me back in the early 2000s. It reminded me that writing artful, sophisticated pop music was absolutely possible. Twenty years later, this record still sounds so fresh and exciting." — Anna Calvi

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