Irish sensation and former Revelino guitarist Bren Berry’s forthcoming debut solo album, In Hope Our Stars Align is due out on 31st January, and ahead of that is a video for his latest single, ‘Knives (Heavy Metal Rain)’.
Like his previous single, ‘Turn On Your Radio’, ‘Knives (Heavy Metal Rain)’ is a protest song, a call-to-arms to tune into the best of ourselves and the world around us as we continue to sleep-walk into climate disasters everywhere.
This is Berry’s most strikingly lyrical song yet, loaded with sardonic, foreboding metaphors addressing the planet’s unfolding environmental crisis. But, as always with Bren’s writing, there is a conscious focus for optimism coded within the unstoppable melody that carries the piledriving guitars and cinematic strings and words that rally for positive action as he sings: “Reach out for the high notes, that blow us all away. The living saints and the lifeboats, that save us every day.”
“I wrote this song in response to complacent half-measures and cynical greenwashing as the planet is increasingly on fire or underwater,” explained Bren. “It is also an anthem to hope, the power of activism and positive direct action for the common good. I was inspired at the time of writing by David Attenborough’s clarion call at COP26: “Is this how our story is going to end? Failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short-term goals… we must use this opportunity to create a more equal world, and our motivation should not be fear, but hope.” I got the idea for the chorus “Don’t bring knives to a gunfight” from a Sean Connery line in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables.
The song was produced by Berry and Gavin Glass in Orphan Studios and mixed and mastered by D. James Goodwin in The Isokon, New York and Virginia. “I am extremely grateful to Gavin and Daniel and to the musicians who played on this record with me and really raised the bar on this song. I love Gavin’s Jah Wobble-in-cowboy-boots bass playing and the way it locks in with Binzer’s drums.”
Danny Anderson joined Berry on vocal harmonies and Cormac Curran delivered an epic widescreen Ennio Morricone / Jean-Claude Vannier inspired string arrangement that was performed by The Orphan Strings featuring Lynda O’Connor (Violin), Paul O’Hanlon (Violin), Gerald Peregrine (Cello) and Carla Vedres (Viola).
Previous single ‘Turn On Your Radio’ was another melodic love letter to the power of music and to “things that can’t be sold” featuring Berry’s trademark layers of guitars and infectious vocal hooks and harmonies. It’s also defined by a reflective and honest lyricism delivered with empathy and tenderness.
“When I was kid, I spent a lot of time in The Liberties with my Aunt Norrie who was a massive Elvis Presley fan and introduced me to the magic of radio,” reflected Berry. “I have always loved discovering great music on the radio, listening to so many great DJ’s especially at night.”
‘Turn on your Radio’ is also a metaphor, a protest song, an SOS “Ground control to Major Tom” styled broadcast to a world in trouble and running out of road. It’s a call to tune in to ourselves and the world around us as we continue to sleep-walk into climate and social disasters everywhere.
“I wrote it as we were resurfacing after lockdown and think it captures the sense of isolation, loss and alienation that we were all feeling, like an earthbound ‘Space Oddity’ stuck in cruise control,” Bery reflected.
The song was produced by Berry & Gavin Glass in Orphan Studios and mixed and mastered by Daniel James Goodwin at The Isokon, Virginia. Berry is joined by Glass on guitars, bass and synthesisers, Binzer Brennan on drums and Gavin Fox on backing vocals.
