Time tells many things
I want to forget
Nightmares are like heaven
Next to my regrets
The flashbacks never go
Wounds are gonna open again
As we’ve come so far yeah just to get to here
Might as well see this through to the bitter end
Let’s drive a nail
Into this
Battered coffin
Till this brutal love has gone
Tear apart
Destroy this
Blackened story
Till this cruelest love has gone
See the reaper dig
A grave to collect
All the remains of
Love’s explosive death
The time is drawing near
Chains come crashing down
As your heavy boots approach don’t you forget
This is the road that fate has taken now
Let’s drive a nail
Into this
Battered coffin
Its the brutal love that’s gone
Tear apart
Destroy this
Blackened story
Till this cruelest love has gone
This song is a lament.
It is the moment you realise it is the end of a relationship; the end of a life-long commitment. In its brutal form, this grief brings about waves of emotions from sorrow to anger. The complex nature of love and human relationships is never black and white and in amongst the tragedy lie ‘dark stars’ of hope and relief.
I am fortunate to know some of the most talented female-fronted bands of London and South England. We played gigs together to promote nights under the collective Indie Noir. I joined up with them last week to ask what they thought of the new lyric video…
“The storybook imagery in Simonne and the Dark Stars’ new lyric video for the new single Drive A Nail illustrates the dark fairytale told by the lyrics. The song opens with a childlike melody, belying the anguished metaphor of the song, which builds to a keyboard ostinato that, between the drums, bass, and backing vocals, is driven continuously. This is reflected in the equally feverish pace of the Rorschach style cover art, which flickers in between gothic imagery and perfectly blended images of dark angel Simonne. ‘Let’s drive a nail into this battered coffin’ – deceptively hopeful lyrics set to a major chord progression suggest that there might be some chance of retribution within this hopeless love story. A band that is equally compelling live and on record, Simonne and the Dark Stars are back in their full glory with Drive a Nail.”
—Hana Piranha’s debut album Cold Comfort is out now for pre-order on iTunes or Amazon
“A very strong, well-crafted pop song that still retains a signature Simonne and Dark Stars gothic edge to the lyrics. An ultra-catchy chorus, powerful arrangement and polished production, makes this the most slick and accessible Simonne and the Dark Stars tune yet!”
—Taylor Madison Damion is Emberhoney. Their EP called Smoke is available to listen now.
“It’s clear from the beginning of the song that a lot of thought has gone into this arrangement. The treatment on Simonne’s voice is unusual and gives it a rock feel alongside the grittiness of the other instruments. The chorus is catchy – it stayed with me all day – I’m walking around now wishing for things to drive-a-nail into… The melody is good, almost recognisable as all good melodies are, with dark foreboding lyrics which are the defining characteristic of an Indie Noir woman. But the bridge is where this song shines, layered harmonies almost Imogen Heap-like, guitar solo and the dramatic break taking you into final choruses really driving that nail home. It has all the makings of a great pop song but its quirk draws you in a bit closer.”
—Ruth Power is singer songwriter and keyboardist for Death In Texas. Their latest album is Pause Between Breaths is available now on iTunes and Amazon.
“Simonne and the Dark Stars return with a brand new track that immediately shows an elevation in sound and song-writing. Drive A Nail is an uplifting catchy, gloomy pop track with darker undertones that gets stuck in your head. I’m looking forward to hearing more from one of Brighton’s most exciting underground bands.”
—Mishkin Fitzgerald, chief of BirdEatsBaby. Their latest album The Bullet Within is available now.
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