Nerves return with their second single of 2026 ‘Ulcer’, a song that pushes a more melodic and dynamic side to their songwriting while delivering their signature devastating low end and abrasive soundscapes.
Originally formed in County Mayo and now based in Dublin, Nerves have steadily built a reputation as one of Ireland’s most uncompromising live acts. Their shows feel less like performances and more like pressure points, all volume, tension and release, earning them tours alongside some of the buzziest new names in the circuit, Maruja and Gurriers, as well as shows with noise-rock royalty, The Jesus Lizard.
Their 2025 EP Iarmhaireacht marked a turning point. A record rooted in atmosphere and narrative as much as abrasion, it traced a line between rural memory and present day unease, pairing archival textures with tightly wound, industrial-leaning arrangements. It introduced a broader emotional range to the band’s sound without sacrificing any of its force, and positioned Nerves as something more expansive than a noise rock outlier.
‘Ulcer’ proves the bands dynamic control and ability to build and release tension to brutal effect. The band take the listener on a journey with this effort, coming to a conclusion that may not seem obvious from the first 20 seconds. Leaning into influences such from trip-hop all the way to post-hardcore, Nerves show with Ulcer that there needs to be quiet for volume to truly make an impact. Recorded in Sonic Studios in Stoneybatter, Dublin with Dan Fox of acclaimed noise rock band Gilla Band, the song touches on spatial disconnection and the narrator’s lack of a true sense of home, feeling like one doesn’t belong in the new city they live in but has gone too far from their roots to truly claim their own heritage either. The song explores the extremes of what effects this can have on an individual’s mental wellbeing.
‘Ulcer’ arrives in a busy period for the band, fresh off the heels of appearances at Output festival in Belfast, Other Voices in Derry and Ireland Music Week in Dublin, the band will embark on a 5 date French tour following the release of the single and will also join Belfast noise band Makeshift Art Bar for two sold out dates in Brighton and London.
For more information on Nerves please check their facebook and instagram.