Famous reveal shocking vulnerability in “God Hold You” and “It Goes On Forever” and announce debut album – Beats Per Minute

June 19, 2024

Famousthe south London band around mastermind Jack Merrett, releases their long-awaited debut album Party Album on October 11th via Untitled (Recs).

We last heard from the Brixton Windmill-affiliated band with their 2021 mini-album The valleywhich Merrett presented to BPM as her “strange Quarter-life crisis” Recording and the inspiration for the new album comes from there.

“(After the valley), I had a kind of crisis of confidence. I started to wonder if this was really what I wanted to do.” he says. He decided to follow the theory, “what album I would make if I didn’t have to worry about anyone but myself. That became the starting point for all of us“.

The first songs to air are “God Hold You” and “It Goes On Forever,” which showcase both sides of Famous’s signature intensity.

“God Hold You” is a pounding rock song, packed with the usual industrial guitar sheen, which perfectly contrasts with Merrett’s voice, which sounds raspier and rougher than ever. His mumbled musings revolve around ideas of self-worth and feelings of self-loathing, with shouts and swelling riffs circling in the background like negative thoughts.

On the other hand, there’s “It Goes On Forever,” which revolves around a tense acoustic guitar and a shadowy synth background, where Merrett’s croak is even more prominent. Here, he’s in the thick of the narrative, describing unhealthy behaviors that brought him to the brink of breakdown. However, as he helplessly whines “oh my God / what the hell is going on,” the song becomes more beautiful and airy, like a resolution to leave the past behind and turn over a new leaf.

Listen to both tracks below or find them on your favorite streamer.