“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, is this the makings of heaven, a moment of trust?”
The end of an intense physical relationship often delivers a sharp pang of loss—a visceral hollowing that echoes throughout one’s existence. This emotional void is akin to a sudden silence in the midst of a symphony. Yet, there’s a paradoxical sanctity in such intimacy: each touch and tender word, once shared, is consecrated as memory. This not only marks the peak of human connection but also its inevitable dissolution, lending the pain of parting a bittersweet reverence. Though the departure may resonate with loss, the shared moments ensure that it remains significant, always hallowed.
With that, Irish post-punk quartet Scattered Ashes (now based in London) turns its gaze to the profundity of breakups in their latest work. Fresh off a year touring alongside goth icons like She Past Away, The Chameleons, and Clan Of Xymox, they’ve dropped their newest single Kingdom, a precursor to their EP All That Is Solid Melts Into Air.
With Kingdom, Scattered Ashes push their musical boundaries, weaving themes of sex, death, and rebirth. The track channels the dark, moody vibes of Depeche Mode, Portishead, and Echo and the Bunnymen, blending guitars, drums, samples, synthesizers, and sequencers to forge a sound reminiscent of The Murder Capital and Massive Attack.
Lyrically, Kingdom confronts themes of heartbreak, mortality, and spirituality with its recurring mournful lines of grief, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” underscoring a tension between coming to terms with the end of a romance and the search for spiritual peace. The song speaks to the enduring pain of loss, highlighting the deep scars left behind and the struggle to move past profound life changes.
“Kingdom is a reflection on the acute sense of loss felt at the end of an intense physical relationship and the possibility of rebirth in its aftermath,” the band says. “The track examines the sanctifying nature of intimacy and how we as humans find our purpose in its ultimate end.”
Hannah Kelly’s video dives right into in the raw emotion of confronting this unique sorrow. Kelly skillfully captures the essence of navigating grief—whether on the Tube, a bus, riding in a car with bandmates, or beneath the stark stage lights – each setting frames a raw, cathartic performance. It’s a sombre ode to the art of release, vividly portraying the often dissociative journey of letting go with intense clarity.
Watch the video for “Kingdom” below:
All That Is Solid Melts Into Air comes out June 14th via Fatal Vision / Blowtorch Records.
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