The last couple of years have hardly been what you could describe as a glorious chapter in British history: a country sharply divided along political lines, a distrust of the media and the wider establishment, troubling economic times, a global pandemic and now a conflict which seems to become more horrifying by the minute. It’s hardly surprising then that a band like Benefits have burst onto the scene, offering a scathing take on current events against a backdrop of equally unnerving and scathing music.
Benefits is the latest project from vocalist Kingsley Hall, backed up on synthesizers by Robbie and Hugh Major and drums by Dale Frost, and marks a significant departure from his previous bands. Gone are any traces of traditional rock band setups or artistic flair, with Benefits instead firing white-hot walls of electronic noise and sparse programmed drums beneath viciously delivered vocal diatribes taking aim at the aforementioned establishment and the current rise in right-wing populism within British society. Benefits are certainly a political band and make no apologies for it.
That Benefits are achieving the levels of intrigue they are is remarkable in itself, given their decidedly non-commercial sound. Comparisons could be made to Sleaford Mods who have publicly given Benefits their seal of approval; however, tracks like recent release ‘Meat Teeth’ bear more similarities to bands like fellow Harbinger Sound group Consumer Electronics in the open use of feedback, almost recalling vintage power electronics through a more avant-punk prism.
In a scene that is notoriously insular and hostile, Benefits are developing a reputation as being “outsiders to the outsiders”, plugging a gap in the market somewhere between the cult noise underground and recognisable indie mainstream success – and it’s a formula that is clearly working for them.
A successful first headlining tour of the UK has seen Benefits sell out venues across the country already, and their upcoming gig at the Westgarth Social Club in Middlesbrough on Saturday 23rd April is shaping up to be a fitting homecoming.
Thus far, the band have fired out individual tracks from home studio to internet at a rate of knots without yet releasing anything on a physical format. With that set to change this year, this presents an opportunity to see them during their early momentum.
Judging by audience reactions, Benefits are striking a very current and a very angry chord within their audience.
Tickets, priced at £10.50 in advance, are available from seetickets.com.
