The Libertines Post New Single Night Of The Hunter
Wednesday, 06 December 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Ed Cooke
The Libertines have shared another song from their upcoming studio album.
Following the first single, Run, Run, Run, Night Of The Hunter serves as the second preview of 'All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade', the band's first full-length release in nine years. Following a melancholic acoustic guitar-led introduction, the track unfurls across lyrics that weave a Shakespearean story of blood and revenge.
Head below to view the accompanying Alex Brown-directed video, which was filmed in Cliftonville, Margate and at the Libertines' hotel The Albion Rooms. Similarly to the clip for their previous single, it features characters from songs on the record. Frontman Peter Doherty said:
"We got the title from Charles Laughton's directorial debut Night Of The Hunter starring Robert Mitchum as a preacher with ‘LOVE’ and ‘HATE’ tattooed on his knuckles. The song's about not staying ahead of the law. This fella doesn't really know why his mate’s dead, but he's got a feeling his mate had it coming to him.
"He fucked with the wrong people, and he stole something he shouldn't have, and he got stabbed. So, he's angry and hurt and he has to go and get revenge, so he does and that's it for him, basically. Once he has stabbed the lad who stabbed his mate, that's it for him. He lashed out in revenge and he knows they’re coming to get him and he's not even going to try and run because he knows he'll just be running forever."
Vocalist-guitarist Carl Barât added:
"I started writing a riff and it ended up sounding a bit like Swan Lake, and everyone went, ‘Yeah!’ Then we got Peter’s theremin player in which took about a day to get in tune, then he played that sequence and it worked beautifully."
"The idea of getting carted off for ten years is horrendous… the condemned man dies 1000 times."
The follow-up to 2015's 'Anthems For Doomed Youth' is due out on March 8. Ahead of its release, the four-piece will play a series of intimate UK shows, including two in Margate this weekend (December 9 and 10).
The Libertines Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Sat December 09 2023 - MARGATE Lido
Sun December 10 2023 - MARGATE Lido
Tue January 23 2024 - STOCKTON ARC
Wed January 24 2024 - LIVERPOOL Cavern Club
Thu January 25 2024 - MILTON KEYNES MK11
Sat January 27 2024 - CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
Sun January 28 2024 - DERBY Hairy Dog
Sun February 11 2024 - FALMOUTH princess pavilion
Mon February 12 2024 - SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms
Wed February 14 2024 - STOKE Underground
Thu February 15 2024 - LEEDS Wardrobe
Fri February 16 2024 - GLASGOW Oran Mor
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