Benefits Announce Second LP 'Constant Noise' And UK Tour, Share Song Relentless Feat Peter Doherty
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Tom White
Benefits have announced their second album and a tour.
The Teeside noise-punks will release 'Constant Noise', the follow-up to 2023's 'NAILS', on March 21 via Invada Records.
Now a two-piece featuring frontman Kingsley Hall and electronic mastermind Robbie Major, the pair previously teased the project with the single Land Of The Tyrants, which saw them exploring a more dance and bass-heavy sound. They said:
"We’re still angry and 'Constant Noise' is an angry album, just angry in a different way to before. There's plenty of bands around who are more overt and obvious in their rage - just as we were on our debut - and that’s fine, we just wanted to develop something beyond that. We wanted to create something almost joyous in its disgust at the world. If the previous record was black and white, we wanted this to be technicolour."
Hall added: "None of this sounds joyous, but believe me, it is, we strived for a dark euphoria, plus it was a thrill to make. It’s an album we’re all immensely proud of. We knew it was going to be a risk to go against the formula of our debut, especially as it was so well received by critics, but we never wanted this band to become predictable or get stuck in a rut. We prefer being on the edge of not quite knowing what we’re doing, our discomfort driving creativity.
"Benefits was designed as a collaborative project and whether that means we get our mate onstage to sing a folk song or ask the drummer from Therapy to play for us, that’s how it survives, and that’s how it will remain."
They've now shared another cut, Relentless featuring Peter Doherty of The Libertines, which leads with Hall's barbed spoken word delivery, combined with haunting vocals from Doherty and atmospheric, electronica-inflected production. Hall explained:
"The song is about craving for a past you had that exists perhaps solely in your memory. Yearning your lost youth, when things seemed easier. Getting Peter Doherty involved was important not just because he’s a legendary performer but also because he was a hero to both of us when we were getting into music, linking in with the theme of the song. Peter and the Libertines were integral to our musical education and love of music, like it or not, he’s a hugely important factor as to why we do what we do. He’s part of our past and we’re honoured and humbled that he agreed to participate in our future."
Head below to view the track's accompanying video, directed by Teesside filmmaker John Kirkbride.
Benefits will support 'Constant Noise' with a UK tour in April, tickets for which go on general sale at 10am on Friday (November 15).
Benefits were also recently announced for the line-up for next year's 2000trees festival near Cheltenham.
'Constant Noise' tracklist:
1. Constant Noise
2. Land Of The Tyrants
3. The Victory Lap
4. Lies And Fear
5. Missiles
6. Blame
7. Continual
8. Divide
9. Relentless
10. Terror Forever
11. Dancing On The Tables
12. Everything Is Going To Be Alright
13. The Brambles
14. Burnt Out Family Home
Benefits Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Tue April 22 2025 - HEBDEN BRIDGE Trades Club
Wed April 23 2025 - HULL Social
Thu April 24 2025 - NOTTINGHAM Bodega
Fri April 25 2025 - LONDON Lexington
Sat April 26 2025 - BRISTOL Louisiana
Sun April 27 2025 - BIRMINGHAM Hare and Hounds
Mon April 28 2025 - LEICESTER Firebug
Tue April 29 2025 - GLASGOW Rum Shack
Wed April 30 2025 - LEEDS Attic
Thu May 01 2025 - MANCHESTER White Hotel
Fri May 02 2025 - GATESHEAD Glasshouse
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
