Eyeliners come in all shapes, colours and sizes. From flamingo pink, to electric blue to black metal black. They have been the staple of make up kits since ancient times, favoured by priests, nobles and pharaohs. Eyeliners played important roles not only as a fashion accessory but were essential during religious rites, marriage ceremonies and coronations. The most famous art pieces such as the bust of Nefertiti or Mona Lisa proudly display a generous use of eyeliner too – they have become the symbols of feminine beauty. Eyeliner is now arriving in many language versions too – all thanks to our favourite Welsh metallers CELAVI.
EYELINER single cover
Official bio: Fresh from their first performance at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, the nu-metal band from Bangor, CELAVI, have released their new single, “EYELINER” on 22nd of May. “EYELINER” is an anthem full of chaos – combining energetic nu-metal riffs with emotional grit – that is impossible to forget. Produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Nova Twins, Holding Absence), the track weaves together metal, goth, industrial, electro and rock influences to create a completely unique sound. Featuring lyrics in three languages, the track goes against the norm and emphasizes the duo’s experimental, no-holds-back nature. With upcoming gigs in Newport, Manchester and Wrexham, CELAVI are ready to push Welsh metal music further than ever.
Did you know that 22nd of May is the International World Goth Day? If you haven’t had a clue, then here comes CELAVI with their new track to remind us all so we shall never forget. Don’t feel bad, the staff at Indieterria are goths at heart and yet we were clueless too. The day celebrates gothic aesthetic, literature, fashion and art: from comic books, paintings, photography to music. And what a better way to celebrate the subculture than with the release of a new gothic metal track? We truly can’t think of anything that would surpass this idea!
“EYELINER” debuted last year as the closing number on the band’s EP “Anima”. When we reviewied it, we called it the perfect finisher and a fan-favourite song, but we didn’t’ think they would go on and release it as a stand alone single. As all other tracks from the EP, “EYELINER” comes with its own, absolutely brilliant video that amassed thousands of views on YouTube. The North Welsh duo shot it in a very unique location, inside a historic church that now serves as an art community centre called NYTH in their home town of Bangor.
Sarah and Gwion photographed by Lou Sinner
The video shows lead singer Sarah Wynn and guitarist Gwion resting inside their very comfy looking coffins, performing some sort of dark magic summoning inside candle rings and of course, playing music. The undead seem to have all the fun in the world. I’m kinda jealous, as I have to work all week! It’s also great to see Sarah having her hair dyed again, this time she rocks cotton candy pink that suits her so well, especially contrasted with a corset and leather skirt. In certain shots, we can see her and Gwion wearing white and red matching costumes that look like Japanese seifuku uniforms. It’s not the first time Japanese accents are appearing in CELAVI videos. The clip to their previous single “l o w e r c a s e” showed stickers of Sailor Moon anime on the bathroom walls, and scenes shot in an abandoned hospital in “Iodine” reminded me of the iconic moments from the first Silent Hill video game. Not sure if the Welsh couple are fans of Japanese pop culture but these days, who isn’t?
“EYELINER” stands at 3 minutes and 38 seconds. It mixes electronica, industrial techno with nu metal and industrial metal. The song starts with an acid techno buzzing beat, and quickly progresses with fast metal rhythm, heavy drums and throws alt-pop melodic refrains into the pot. The band called the track “anti-prom”, an anthem for those who value individuality, alternative sense of fashion and standing out in a crowd.
Sarah has a message for all people belonging to the alternative subcultures: be it punks, goths and metalheads. “As a band, we stand for self-worth, authenticity, and unapologetically being yourself, no matter what the world throws at you” she wrote in CELAVI’s press release for the track. “In a society that pressures us to conform, ‘EYELINER’ is for the misfits, the outcasts, and anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit in. Being Wales’ first bilingual nu-metal band is a title we carry with pride. It hasn’t come without its challenges, but we’ve become the band we needed growing up.”
Sarah on the set of the EYELINER video, picture by Lou Sinner
“EYELINER” is sung in English, German and Welsh, proving that regional languages are perfect for every time of music, not just folk. CELAVI ‘s efforts to bridge their Welsh heritage and popular rock music truly paid off: they received multiple plays from the BBC Introducing Wales, BBC Radio 1, BBC Cymru, Radio X and other national radio stations.
“EYELINER” is out now independently.
CELAVI online:
https://www.wearecelavi.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WEARECELAVI/
https://www.instagram.com/wearecelavi/
https://twitter.com/wearecelavi
https://soundcloud.com/wearecelavi
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OEzNJIkgsH8PTw0y86ATx?si=bo7MdX3-Q1O_nfbhpgAziw&nd=1
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVqtR652vnb9pwo89ek2Y2g
https://www.tiktok.com/@wearecelavi
https://www.threads.net/@wearecelavi
Further read:
https://nation.cymru/culture/welsh-nu-metallers-celavi-share-new-single-featuring-three-languages/
https://selar.cymru/2025/celavi-yn-rhyddhau-eyeliner/
Rita Dabrowicz
Indieterria 