Curfew Unleash Cinematic Hard-Rock Debut with ‘Black Doll’s Eyes’

Irish alternative hard-rock trio Curfew make a bold statement with their debut album, Black Doll’s Eyes. The record captures the band’s signature blend of raw intensity and reflective lyricism, carving out cinematic rock landscapes that are as emotionally charged as they are sonically expansive. Made up of Jj Smilez, Gavin Dunne, and Mick Caffrey, Curfew have already built a strong reputation across Ireland’s live scene, and this album solidifies their emergence as one of the country’s most compelling new acts.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Shaun Cadogan at Temple Lane Studios, Black Doll’s Eyes channels Curfew’s cinematic rock energy with precision and depth. Standout track “Flaketown” exemplifies the band’s ability to balance nostalgia with modernity, musically evoking a retro-tinged world while lyrically exploring the tension between presence and distraction in a digital age. Lines like “Swipe it down, then forget I ever saw it / though I love you, I forget to tell you” highlight the friction between intention and habit, while the refrain “Can’t let go, won’t let go, won’t let it die in my hands” captures technology’s addictive hold on relationships.

In the context of the full album, “Flaketown” provides a striking counterpoint to Curfew’s other tracks, inhabiting the negative spaces of absence, detachment, and emotional struggle. Across Black Doll’s Eyes, the trio balances intensity with introspection, crafting a record that is both cinematic and deeply personal. To celebrate the release, Curfew will headline The Grand Social in Dublin on 23 December, a performance that promises to mark a defining moment for the North Dublin three-piece as they solidify their place in Ireland’s alternative rock landscape.