DEADLETTER have just announced their debut album Hysterical Strength out on 13th September via SO Recordings alongside an immense UK and EU headline tour. They have celebrated with the release of their dynamic new single ‘Mere Mortal.’
Their latest track fizzes with elastic basslines and angular guitar motifs punctuated with explosive saxophone breaks that fuse to forge a song full of united intention from the embers of personal tragedy, after the suicide of a close friend. Produced by famed British producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele), it’s a model introduction to an album of exploratory art-punk that brews malevolent atmospheres and searches darkened corridors for clarity amongst the cacophony of chaos With propulsive force, the track traverses the highs and lows of human existence with hook laden sonic spirals, slanted riffs, gloriously jagged outros and a unified anthemic chorus.
Lead singer Zac Lawrence says about the song: “Though Mere Mortal was written in the wake of personal tragedy, its intention is not to convey the sentiment of subjective grief, but to act as an undoubtedly relatable tale of loss and longing for all those who themselves have been faced with and have had to navigate the confusing, painful landscape that bereavement leaves one confronted by.”
The world is brutal but there are cherry trees in blossom. This is the philosophy that underpins DEADLETTER, and their bruising, beautiful debut album Hysterical Strength. “It’s punishing but there’s also fucking beauty out there,” explains frontman Zac Lawrence More about DEADLETTER and debut album Hysterical Strength. “Being able to take something disgusting or disgraceful and make it sound nice through the power of music, that juxtaposition appeals to me,” Lawrence adds. The result is twelve tracks of motorik rhythms and angular guitars, adorned by smoky saxophone and baritone-belted lyrics about flickering television sets and dilapidated town centres decked with decapitated bodies.
In their short time releasing music the band has picked up support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, NME, The Times, and also landed on the 6 Music playlist. They’ve sold out shows across the UK and Europe and in October 2024 will begin their biggest headline run to date.
Hear ‘Mere Mortal’ on streaming services here and watch the video below.
Hysterical Strength is out 13th September via SO recordings. Pre-order HERE.
DEADLETTER | Photo credit: Daniel Delikatnyi
