‘The Killer is the Speaking’ isn't a surprise release by any chance with its appearance on various summer set lists, including Reading & Leeds 2024 where fans were proudly chanting along from the first note. However, its bold entrance as the upcoming album’s opening track is the perfect introduction into what is to be a world of wonder, mysticism and ferocity.

Intertwining personal passions with a vibrant, country style flair,  ‘The Killer is the Speaking’ breaks through the noise from the get-go. Inviting the listener in with open arms and a warm yet warning heart with its poignant, mythologising lyricism, fantastically delivered in a hypnotic vocal style by Abigail Morris, the song’s themes are easily applied to real life experiences of heartbreak and rising above it like a phoenix from the ashes.

The Last Dinner Party are not a band for subtlety, which continues to be one of their biggest strengths. Their palpable passion extends deeper into this track’s melodic harmonies through lines like the chorus' “Here comes the killer … / … Here comes your girl’/”, which helps to embody a sense of lightness and fun amongst the at times dark lyrical storytelling. It's a perfect balance of fun and serious mythology that will leave listeners feeling empowered and intrigued for what's to come, a sentiment that continues across into the track’s accompanying music video featuring members of the band, Abigail Morris, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davis, Lizzie Mayland and Aurora Nishevci as centaurs, cowboys, and western barmaids.

The story of The Last Dinner Party is brilliantly resumed; the question is, where will this year's book take them?