IMPERIAL WAX RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO ‘NO CONTROL’

5th February 2024 0 By Jon Deaux

Formed in 2018 by Pete Greenway, drummer Keiron Melling and bassist Dave Spurr, formerly known as the last and longest-serving lineup of The Fall, Imperial Wax finally follow the release of their debut album ‘Gastwerk Saboteurs’ in 2019 this coming February 9^th with their new and second album ‘Tranquilliser’, to be released via Guesswork Records.

Now very much a band in their own right, Imperial Wax draws on the lessons they learned from Mark E Smith and has evolved into a visceral, expressive fusion of garage rock and post-punk.

Following the release of the ‘Less I Need’ video, the first single to be released from ‘Tranquilliser’ at the start of 2024 where Imperial Wax celebrated their return with a 4-minute post-punk garage barrage, constantly changing keys and charging up into a furious krautrock barnstormer, the band return this week with a second video and single for the track ‘No Control’. Starting with a stuttering, jagged guitar riff, drummer Keiron Melling commences the rhythm with a simple military-like snare march, before the whole band explodes into the song’s stomping, angular attack, veering dangerously out of control…

“No Control is a difficult one to explain without getting too personal, the whole song is a sort of visceral catharsis about taking people for granted,” explains guitarist and vocalist Sam Curran. “It’s basically a big rant at myself for not realising the repercussions of my actions until it’s too late to grovel for an apology. I think I’ve said before, I love going for a beer, especially after work. I spend all week on my own and love having a natter with folk. It’s difficult to get the balance right when you’re in dickhead mode, 1 beer turns into 5 and before long I’ve sacked everything off in a fit of selfishness and will deal with the aftermath later.

“I still do this now but hopefully I’m not as bad as I used to be, I’m guessing at the time of writing ‘No Control’ I was trying to clamber out of a pit I’d excavated for myself. I probably wrote it at work on a Monday while feeling sorry for myself. I tried to illustrate the never-ending cycle of my behaviour by repeating each line, in one ear out the other sort of thing. I don’t think I’ve got a drinking problem, it’s a selfishness problem.”

Following the release of the album, Imperial Wax will be hitting stages across the UK at the following dates, with many more to be added.

09/02 – Preston – Action records out store @ the Ferret
10/02 – Leeds – In store @ Jumbo Records
12/02 – BBC6 Live session – Riley and Coe
17/02 – London – In store @ Dash the Henge
06/04 – Manchester – FairPlay festival

‘Tranquilliser’ is out February 9^th via Guesswork Records

‘Tranquilliser’ Track-Listing.