The past year and a half have seen an almost meteoric rise for Sheffield quintet The SSS, from their formation in 2013 to selling out the Leadmill and playing Isle of Wight festival. ‘Eighteen’ is their heady, shadow-tinged latest release and marks a triumphant new chapter for the band, as the lead single from their upcoming debut EP Love, Lust, Loss.
In keeping with the EP title, ‘Eighteen’ is a sharp exploration of the dark places in relationships, infidelity and desire. The femme fatale who underpins the narrative spins temptingly through the track: “she’s already inside your mind / leaving tracks as she climbs” – and yet the focus is split equally between her dangerous allure and a sort of introspective confession. “Stop now, before you lose it all / just like you did before” frontman Josh Coddington sings at one point; ‘Eighteen’ resolutely asks more questions than it answers, a hint of mystery strung throughout it.
The track’s lyrics pull us in, but it’s their coupling with the music – a stomping, tightly controlled thrash with a glorious middle 8 – that fleshes out the underworld created in ‘Eighteen’ and makes it truly special. ‘Eighteen’ has served as a brilliant set opener for the band in the past and is certain to be a crowd-pleaser as their popularity grows. It’s only up from here for The SSS – if you’re not a fan already, sort it out.
‘Eighteen’ is released on 28th September – in the meantime, you can preorder it from iTunes or check out their Soundcloud, Twitter or Facebook.
Words by Priya Bryant