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Alternative rockers AMONGST LIARS are going head to head with the powers that be with their new single and music video for ‘You Are Not a Slave’. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming second full-length album, Design, due 4th July 2024 via Earache Records.
Stream ‘You Are Not a Slave’ here.
Pre-order and save Design here.
On the new single, vocalist Ian George comments:
“‘You Are Not a Slave’ is all about personal metamorphosis; not conforming to unreasonable demands and not allowing yourself to be controlled or devalued by people who don’t have your best interests at heart. This song comes from a recent lived experience where I was subjected to passive aggressive and toxic behaviour in a work environment, which really fucked with my psyche–but ultimately I wasn’t prepared to accept it. I channelled this frustration into the song, which was actually the last song to be recorded for our second album – and I was really pissed off when I sang this in the studio, so I guess everything happens for a reason! It also relates to personal development in general, especially with the constraints being put on people. The message is: Be yourself, break the mould and don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.”
AMONGST LIARS toured in autumn 2023 supporting Theory of a Deadman across the UK and have just come off a very successful 3000 mile 15 day French tour in February 2024 supporting Ayron Jones. A July UK tour with some HMV in-stores is currently being finalised around the launch of Design and more support tours are being worked on for autumn 2024.
“Lyrically, the album is about metamorphosis and rebirth – it is themed around a lot of the issues we have experienced over the last year since our debut album,” explains Ian George. “Personally there have been relationship issues, our bass player Ross has beaten stage two cancer and I have been dealing with a lot of issues around having long covid, resulting in severe fatigue and very up and down bouts with depression. But the album is using this as catharsis-about facing these problems, growing as people and finding positivity amongst the chaos of modern life. There is commentary on the current climate in the UK with songs such as ‘The Shameful’, ‘No Control’ and ‘Wolf Machine’, with the political climate getting increasingly worse and people more and more disheartened.There are songs about overcoming mental health and adversity with songs like ‘Mind’, ‘Vice’, ‘By Design’ and ‘Say’. And songs about standing up to bulling and toxic behaviour with ‘You Are Not a Slave’. We are also aiming to diversify as much as possible with alternative versions of these songs and have done a stripped back piano version of ‘Vice’ and are working on collaborations with other artists too.”
A tight powerhouse of a band; urgent, questioning, loud and fierce. Together they play heavy and direct modern rock ‘n’ roll: massive riffs and powerful, melodic choruses, fuzzy guitar, pummelling drums and bass, pin-balling between heavy alternative rock, grunge and punk. They also have a lyricist who can’t help but use his band as a platform to air anxieties and raise questions about the world we live in. Debut self-titled album was released in July 2022 to critical acclaim and ‘You Are Not a Slave’ is the fourth release from their sophomore album Design, scheduled for release on 4th July 2024. Earlier single from Design called ‘The Shameful’ was selected as Metal Hammer’s Track of the Week.
Band Members:
Ian George – vocals
Leo Burdett – guitars
Adam Oarton – drums
Ross Towner – bass
James Brumeo – keys
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Photo Credit: Vic Payne
