The Murder Capital  - Blindness

Where The Murder Capital’s debut, ‘When I Have Fears’ (2019), delivered poetic post-punk melancholy, the follow-up, ‘Gigi’s Recovery’ (2023), showcased atmospheric introspection. ‘Blindness’ marks a bold step forward, presenting a dynamic, eclectic project brimming with self-confidence.

They haven’t entirely left their staple sound behind, though, harking back on tracks like ‘Moonshot’, ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’, or ‘Death of a Giant’. However, there are also moments of thrilling departure. Take James McGovern’s gorgeous croon in ‘Born Into The Fight’, for example, or the bluesy groove of ‘A Distant Life’. On closer ‘Trailing a Wing’, creaky guitars and raspy vocals channel Nirvana-era spirit. Perhaps the best example of this evolution is the Nick Cave-esque ‘Love of Country’, where in six brilliant minutes, the band dissect hatred and contemporary Irish nationalism set atop searing guitars.

It may be their most concise offering to date, but it still allows for lush moments of indulgence. For instance, the full-bodied instrumental warm-up in ‘That Feeling’ begs to be played live, while the track’s ultimate descent into an eruption of rage midway through makes for a sensational shift. For the same reason, the twists and turns in ‘Love of Country’ cement it as the album’s highlight.


With ‘Blindness’, The Murder Capital have crafted an album that feels both urgent and timeless. Simply put, it’s nothing short of a triumph.