Gavin Hellyer
Brutal and honest music and lyrics out of Teeside, North East England. This group of musicians have been releasing such songs for a couple of years now. This latest track is the first one I've discovered.
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about
Written and recorded before the Covid pandemic, Rats (along with another song recorded at the same time called Rights) was shelved for a year but is now being released exclusively on Bandcamp. It was created at a point just before Benefits altered the style of their recordings so now seems slightly out of kilter with songs like Flag and Traitors. However, the band always liked the finished product which is why it's being made available now.
lyrics
Face down in the dirt
In the litter, in the shit, with the rats, unfinished neck tats
And petrol station flowered posts
And blocks of concrete high street ghosts
Treading bunting into the dirt
Patriots into the mire
Television pantomime fools
As union jacketed lovers drool
Roll up to food bank queues, emptied church pews, weekend crews
And there’s strangers like statues on the kerb, I KNOW
Waving flags, dressed in rags
Lines and lines of vile, ruddy faced broken bile
“You’re not from this town, never seen you around”
And it goes on for miles, loud, violent, puerile
Parade fascist casuals. Fair-weather bigots.
Metal plated views
Glass strewn underpassed.
As tears are met with grunts
And this cafe is closed for lunch
A brisk suit strides, well fed and sweaty,
Fresh from the racks
Ignorant to the cracks, they snide, the divide
As the dewy eyed collide
Rose tinted semi on fools
Trough gorging ghouls
With millionaire schemes
And nothing at all in between
Bleating tweeting class war
If it wasn’t so bleak it’d be boring
But its obscene, know what I mean
And they come, they trot trot trot trot
Into the next stage managed scene
Its the end of our days
And the blue bloods flowing
Self serving and stale, washed down with craft ale
Mild mannered murder, trudging through the towns piss,
Worked out to the tits
Weekend drinker mayhem
The tills still ring so keep calm and sing
Bloodied dance floor prancers, creeped up romancers
As we barricade ourselves in our homes
And the carpet smoulders, and the wallpaper moans
Airports shut by drones
As Britain rolls over and sighs and moans
Oh no, oh no
Oh no, oh no
Oh no, oh no
credits
released May 19, 2021
Written and performed by Kingsley Hall, Jonny Snowball, Robbie Major and Joe Bell
Recorded by Stephen Norman in Saltburn and Stockton-on-Tees
Mastered by Tom Woodhead at Hippocratic Mastering, Leeds
I can safely say I've never been this excited over a piece of plastic in my entire life! This is awesome! It's impossible to pick a favourite when every track is a banger. The lyrics are on point and delivered with an acerbic wit and passion that leaves me in no doubt that they're spoken from the heart. I need more of this in my life! Dylan Barry
Amazing. Music full of energy and soul. And lyrics not scared of having an opinion. Plus on one of my favourite labels Invada. Finding this music this morning made my day. phil stairmand-jackson
An expansive intermingling of noise rock and art pop from Aussie rockers Agency; All sales from this record go directly to charity. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 22, 2020