It is only natural for a genre to evolve and shapeshift throughout the years, just like post-punk has done. From bands like The Cure and Bauhaus to Idles and Viagra Boys, the sounds have changed but never truly died down. The Murder Capital are keen to prove that the genre is still very much alive and kicking with brand-new single ‘Can’t Pretend to Know’, the Irish outfit’s first new music since 2023’s beautiful and introspective Gigi’s Recovery.
Since the debut When I Have Fears, The Murder Capital established themselves as a staple of guitar music, never afraid to think outside the box or to go beyond the imaginary limits that the industry sometimes imposes. The band’s music has always been characterised by pounding drums, protesting vocals and relentless guitar riffs, and ‘Can’t Pretend to Know’ is no different. Even though, on one side, it follows the softer path of songs like ‘Crying’, it also encapsulates some traits of older, stronger tunes like ‘Green & Blue’.
As lead singer James McGovern describes, this new single is “a stained glass hurricane inside your mind”. As the first notes hit the listener’s eardrums, the energy is immediately palpable and it feels as if the air has shifted slightly. From the jarring yet melodic guitar in the background and enthralling and consistent drums to vocals almost reminding the listeners of an old-style Alex Turner or Grian Chatten from Fontaines D.C., it is one of the strongest comeback singles of the last few years. Its only fault is that it is only 2:40 minutes long.
Lyrically, The Murder Capital have also matured significantly since their 2019 debut. With Gigi’s Recovery, they touched upon themes like redemption, forgiveness and the essence of being; with ‘Can’t Pretend to Know’, McGovern’s words reminisce over a time of youth and naivety, while depicting the strange journey that is growing up. We can walk on, move forward and learn new things while simultaneously feeling still and not knowing anything at all. The Murder Capital showcase, in this new single, lowering tones between one sentence and the other, a subtle addition of singular piano chords during the chorus and a final explosion in a tormented guitar riff, rendering this track an elaborate mix of sounds and concepts.
‘Can’t Pretend to Know’ shows that the five-piece group is ready for newer and bigger things, adding hope to the prospect of a third album which will be just as impressive as the other two. The Murder Capital is here to stay and, no pun intended, they killed it with this new release, making the wait for their third album even more exciting.
Words by Silvia Pellegrino
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.