Feral Family - 'Smother'
Yorkshire-based punk noise-makers Feral Family have returned with the release of their new single ‘Smother’ and the announcement of upcoming debut EP ‘Playtest’! The EP is due for release on the 19th of May and ahead of its release we celebrate and indulge in tasty teaser ‘Smother.’
The track has an apocalyptic sense of angst and sees the band return to their roots, back to when they performed raucous rock in small and sweaty basements, like when we saw them perform at Head of Steam in 2019. They seamlessly blend influences taken from the likes of post-punk outfits Fontaines D.C. and IDLES, and indie rock great Foals, and weave them into a sound completely their own and incredibly infectious. Feral Family is like a drug, and ‘Smother’ hits the spot once again.
Their new track opens with daunting guitar lines that build up towards an eruptive chorus. Sounds that escape their confines and like burning lava stream down the edges of this dark rock track. Its driving force being incredible and passionate vocals, surprising vocal harmonies and warm bass lines. ‘Smother’ listens like a comforting hug, a person that is yet to become a friend. About their new release, Feral Family say: “‘Smother’ is about thinking on the decisions you’ve made in life. Whether or not you have taken the right paths, be it lovers, addictions, friendships… It’s like an internal monologue that focuses heavily on the negative sides of those experiences: would we have been better off without that person? Or not doing or saying certain things?”
They contemplate life choices and make it sound like forever doubting the paths you follow is a mad cool thing to do. The mistakes Feral Family made led them to ‘Smother’, which led them to us… Which can’t possibly have been a bad thing?! The single was produced, mixed and mastered by Liam Radburn at Magic Garden Studios and is the closing track of the upcoming debut EP. Their previous performances and releases show that the band live up to their name; they’re a hungry and relentless bunch, and with ‘Smother’ they show they’ve not lost any of their appetite. The single is followed by a string of live shows in Sheffield, Hull, and Bridlington, with more dates to be confirmed soon!
As the band previously received attention from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, Total Rock and many more, expectations are high and opinions rather unanimous. Even though our focus is on their latest recorded release, we are aware that soon Feral Family will be taking back to the stages and that’s a future to look forward to. They bottled their live energy and let it loose in the studio, which makes this one of our favourite tracks of the band and makes us look forward to hearing the entire five track debut EP. This is only the beginning for Feral Family… We’ll stay for the ride!
Words by Laura Rosierse
