Highly-rated Darlington outfit, The Skapones, have just unveiled their new single ‘Northern Gods’ – and it’s an absolute cracker.
Starting with something a little different, they’ve added a soundscape-styled introduction to the piece – and it really works.
Opening with the blissfully calming patter of rain that eases your mind and ears, you’re then hit with powerful claps of thunder that snap you back – and then the thunderstorm stops and the unmistakeable sound of ska kicks in.
The track pays homage to the glorious and heartbreaking history of the North East. Reflecting on our industrial past, lyrics such as ‘monuments that stood no longer shine, the coal fields and the steel’ remind audiences of the industrial heritage of the area.
Although there is a strong and noble heritage, we are reminded that what once was is no more ‘echoes of a past left behind’ and ‘a thousand voices you chose not to hear’, with these lyrics standing as a representation of how industries that meant so much were cruelly ripped away and the lives of those impacted were ignored.
However, there is a message of hope within the track and a reminder that we can join together to make a difference. Together as a community, we are the Northern Gods. If we realise the power we can possess in unity, we can rise from the foundations of the tragedy and hardship experienced by those before us and become the Northern Gods.
By opening with the booming soundscape of the thunderstorm, it prepares the listener for the track that follows on. The power of the storm alludes to the power that The Skapones are referencing when the Northern Gods start to wake from their sleep and rise from within the deeps of the underground that they have spent their slumber buried within.
There are elements of the single that make it reminiscent of The Specials’ ‘Ghost Town’ with its sombre sound and message.
And although the track may have more of a downbeat rhythm than what we’d generally expect from a ska song, it still possesses that recognisable sound and energy.
‘Northern Gods’ is certain to be an iconic single that will make you stand up and listen.
You can purchase ‘Northern Gods’ now at theskapones.co.uk.
