Benefits return with new single ‘Land Of The Tyrants’

Over a year on from the release of their incendiary debut ‘NAILS’, Teeside outfit Benefits have returned with new music, as well as a new guise.

‘Land Of The Tyrants’ marks the band’s first new material since the release of their first full-length last April, whilst doubling as their first release as a duo, with the outfit now made up of Kingsley Hall and Robbie Major. Somewhat of a departure from the sound of ‘NAILS’, their newest offering also features vocals from Zera Tønin of queer-pop duo Arch Femmesis. “Our songs are still angry, WE are still angry,” Hall has said of the throbbing track, “but we are approaching it all in a different way. This is a punk move from us, this IS punk, but not as you might know it.”

The single also comes accompanied by a slick new video directed by Teesside filmmaker John Kirkbride, which takes inspiration from 80s film The Long Good Friday. “I’m not very good at being Bob Hoskins but Robbie is surprisingly good at being Pierce Brosnan, that’s my hot take,” Kingsley says of the video. “If the people who make Bond movies want to get in touch our DMs are open. There’s something really gratifying about having a daft idea in the middle of the night - like wanting to recreate the final scene in The Long Good Friday - and then seeing it materialise with a few wonky edges, a few days later on your laptop screen. Our amazing friend Martin Fox came to the rescue with lending us his car, a lovely motor, and because he looks incredible AND hard as nails, he also agreed to play an important role in the video too. Result.”

Check out the video below, and remind yourself of the band’s upcoming touring plans - which include a slot supporting Arab Strap in Glasgow this weekend - underneath the player.