AMONGST LIARS – Single Review: “Over and Over”

I’ve stated it numerous times on this blog, but it bears repeating yet again that some of the best rock music being made today is coming from the UK. Almost on a weekly basis, I come across another band or two making a name for themselves in a very crowded field, and today I have the pleasure of introducing an exciting new band with a terrific name – Amongst Liars. They recently released their spectacular debut single “Over and Over“, which I loved at first listen and must share with my readers.

Based in the Brighton/Eastbourne area along the southern English coast, Amongst Liars was formed in September 2019 from the ashes of two bands – Saint Apache and Katalina Kicks. Both were successful bands in their own right, and actually met in 2016 when they shared the same bill at a show in Manchester. After the vocalist of Saint Apache left in April 2019, and Katalina Kicks broke apart a few months later when one of its members decided to leave the UK, KK vocalist Ian George joined the three remaining members of Saint Apache to form Amongst Liars. In addition to Ian, who also plays guitar, the other band members include Leo Burdett (guitar, backing vocals), Ross Towner (bass, backing vocals) and Adam Oarton (drums). Given they’re all accomplished musicians, they hit the ground running and wasted no time writing and recording new music.

Drawing influences from some of their favorite bands like Rage Against The Machine, Every Time I Die, Buckcherry, Guns N’ Roses, Crass, Heavens Basement, Cancer Bats, and Audioslave, they play an aggressive and melodic style of hard rock. “Over and Over” is a rampaging monster of a track. With Ross’s intense buzzing bass line serving as a powerful driving force, Leo and Ian serve up killer riffs of gnarly guitars while Adam pummels his drum kit like a man hellbent on destruction. The guys are really impressive musicians, and Ian is a vocal beast, practically spitting the lyrics as he furiously rails; “We don’t need to beg no more. We don’t need to beg. Make time for this! Yeah, yeah, yeah – over and over we run!”

The lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, but seem to be a bitter indictment against the numbing mind-control of technology and societal pressures to conform and be ‘productive’. The artwork for the single shows a man on a treadmill, surrounded by naked men lying facedown, their backs open to reveal inner machinery, along with a scattering of wheels that appear to have fallen off a cog.

One line for the memory
One love for the soul
I don’t care for the harmony
I don’t write for the show

One love for this jealousy
I feel bad for you son
No time for your remedy
So we dance till it’s done

We don’t need to beg no more

Walk on with an energy
Hold out for the pain
No time for the feeling
Inside of the brain

One time for this heresy
In spite of the sun
One life for the strangers
They can walk, we shall run

We don’t need to beg no more
We don’t need to beg
Make time for this
Yeah, yeah, yeah – over and over we run

The fantastic video shows the band facing off what appears to be their alter ego selves as they perform the song, and really showcases their intense energy and strong musicianship. “Over and Over” is a brilliant song, and a triumphant debut for Amongst Liars. I cannot wait to hear more from this phenomenal band.