Kicking off with Nick Power’s delightful synths and Ian Skelly’s pounding drums, reminiscent of acts like Brògeal and festive legends The Pogues, you can’t help but be intrigued to find out where this is going to go.
‘She Died On Christmas Day’ is The Coral embodied from James Skelly’s slightly scratchy vocals to the repetitive and chugging beat, aided by Paul Duffy’s excellent bass; you really couldn’t expect anything less from the Merseyside-based band.
The organ is undeniably the highlight of the track. Weaving in slighty spooky melodies that sound almost like a fairground ride, it’s a touching homage to where the band grew up, with them stating “to us, it’s the sound of where we grew up: New Brighton and the fair, the lost piers, the thrill and danger it towns at the end of existence…”. The eerie lyrics are fantastic too “I walk every room, I can’t forget her / she haunts every Christmas now she’s gone”. They truly hammer home the dark brilliance of the song and remind listeners that Christmas isn’t always the jolly occasion that it’s painted out to be.
Welcoming December in style, ‘She Died On Christmas Day’ shines light on the irresistibly twisted minds of the English rockers, leaving fans excited to see where they’ll go next.
Madi Briggs
Image: Press
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