Continuing their onward march as a two-piece, The Virginmarys are here to offer another slice of fury in “You’re a Killer” (the song formerly known as “Killer”). This, their latest single, has been knocking around for a few years now, having debuted it all the way back in December 2019 when the band were touring at the same time when we all went out to vote as a damning indictment of the situation we found ourselves in.
Of course, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Almost three years down the line and with everything the UK and the world has faced on a political level in the intervening time (especially in 2022 alone), “You’re a Killer” couldn’t be more timely. Lyrically, it’s right at home with much of the material found on 2016’s Divides albeit far more potent and direct. Ally Dickaty channels his frustration into the lyrics, spitting venom at the political system, the two major UK parties (omitting the joke parties like that really cult-y Scottish Nationalist one) and both sides of the political spectrum in general, declaring them to be as bad as each other as they bathe in their own versions of hypocrisy.
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With hints of Leonard Cohen’s “Democracy” bleeding through the second verse but with a far more vicious pointedness, the band also take aim at modern society once again in the first, acting as a bridge from March’s “The Meds”. Where the song shines brightest is in Ally’s vocal delivery itself, his words rapidly spilling from him, barely able to keep up with his brain as they form the thoughts. As Ally’s trademark guitar tone is baked into the chords, when he fully opens it up into the razor-edged riff, the song comes alive in the chorus, rage permeating through the chorus, bouncing across the melody in perfect synchronicity.
However, where The Virginmarys usually shine in their compositions is the combination of melody and Danny Dolan’s signature frenetic drumming. Instead, here, they’ve turned it on their head to make it sound like Ally’s guitar work and Danny’s drums are fighting each other in the recording. Yet, in that chaos comes beauty. As both elements fight each other with Danny’s marching drum beats, hit with such force you can picture the sticks snapping during the recording sessions (and if you’ve ever seen the band live, you know it’s a common occurrence), they still manage to combine to create a filthy monster of a song; teeth gleaming menacingly whilst drenched in blood, unwilling to take any prisoners.
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Indeed, “You’re a Killer” shows The Virginmarys at their best, once again speaking truth to power. Where it seems no-one is able to offer a viable alternative to fighting those in power, Ally and Danny combine the sneer and swagger of The Rolling Stones with the snarls, pace and sharpness of Motörhead to create one of their punchiest, most direct songs to date.
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