Brighton indie band takes dark gothic turn on first track in four years
On their first two albums, Brighton indie rockers Fear Of Men proved themselves to be one of the more slithery and versatile bands of the 2010s. Their music is full of hazy, dreamy experimentations and heart-on-your-sleeve lyricism, and totally unafraid to push boundaries. It’s been four years since their last LP Fall Forever, but today they’ve re-emerged with the gloriously dark, goth-tinged new single “Into Strangeness.”
On this dramatic and shadowy cut, Fear Of Mean take another bold creative leap forward, unleashing ominous post-punk energy with intoxicating experimental flourishes. A disorienting atonal saxophone wraps around a cavalcade of spine-tingling lo-fi riffs and frenetic percussion, conjuring a sort of baroque, neorealist aura that’s full of tension, possession and affliction. “Into Strangeness” was inspired by the iconic 1974 German New Wave film Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.
“It’s been a strange and extremely charged four years since we last released music. It’s been overwhelming and painful, hopefully leading to tangible positive change,” said Fear Of Men singer-guitarist Jessica Weiss. “In contrast, this time has personally brought a lot of healing, shutting the door finally on elements that have been toxic and draining in my life for too long. This song is an assertion of a voice, a cry of independence. As the lyrics state, I ‘spent a few years in tears, but now I’m steel’. It’s a song about the role of words in constructing the self. We create ourselves like books, and I’m ready to tell a different story.”
The track’s hypnotizing music video was directed by the band during lockdown and self-shot on camera phones, underscoring a desolate, eerie DIY vibe. The black-and-white clip captures 16th century witchcraft motifs, neo-noir dreamscapes, and a heavy dose of feminist power. In addition, Fear Of Men have announced that they’re currently working on their next full-length album. As that LP comes along, we’ll be sure to bring you more coverage. In the meantime, get lost in the shadows on “Into Strangeness” below.
