Newcastle punks Dead Mall are back with a bang, dropping their incendiary new single 'Gasoline'. This two-minute scorcher sees the band tap into a classic comedy skit from the 90s for lyrical inspiration, delivering a track that's as witty as it is ferocious.
Since their last release in 2023, Dead Mall have been busy cooking up a fresh batch of tunes, and 'Gasoline' showcases a band that has clearly levelled up their game. While their hardcore roots are still evident in the breakneck riffs, the overall production and songwriting mark a significant leap forward from their earlier, rawer sound.
The track was recorded, mixed, and produced by guitarist Darcy Long, with mastering handled by the legendary Alan Douches (Every Time I Die, Misfits, Bad Brains). Interestingly, the vocals were the first element written for the song. Frontman Ruairi Burns, inspired by post-hardcore icons Rival Schools, took the reins on lyrics.
"We spent most of last year working on new material, and this was the first one I wanted to tackle vocally," explains Burns. "We usually split the lyric writing, but this one started as just riffs, no vocals. Every time I heard it, the melodies just came to me, so I pushed to write lyrics for it."
He continues, "I'm a massive Rival Schools fan, and I was trying to channel Walter Schriefels' flow. Once I had his voice in my head, the song came together super fast."
Lyrically, 'Gasoline' draws heavily from the iconic 'Deep Thoughts' skits featured on Saturday Night Live throughout the 90s.
"I was trying to write a Jack Handey joke," Burns reveals. "He had that 'Deep Thoughts' bit on SNL (intro by Phil Hartman). I don't think he ever actually stopped writing them either. The opening line, 'It is comforting to know, the day that I snap I have a list of people ready with their last known address,' is a good example of the stuff he used to write – those observational one-liners that seem deep at first but don't really mean much when you think about them."
He adds, "I originally wanted to call it 'Common Sense,' which I thought fit the whole 'Deep Thoughts' vibe. But once we added the 'gasoline' part (which we improvised in the studio), there was no going back. It had to be 'Gasoline.'"
The track is accompanied by a captivating music video directed by rising videographer Nikola Jakonovic, who has previously worked with fellow Newcastle acts like dust, Poltergeist 9000, and Mia Petra. The video portrays Burns in a dreamlike state, summoned to court and trapped in a seemingly endless queue. Jakonovic utilises various visual formats throughout, creating a textured and engaging clip that perfectly complements the song's energy.
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