Released on 21st September via Marshall Records to wide acclaim, Irish rock trio Therapy’s fifteenth studio album Cleave instantly – almost violently – captured the hearts and minds of the music-loving public.
Reaching #2 in the the UK Rock and Metal Chart, #6 in the Irish Independent Chart, #15 in the UK Vinyl Chart and an impressive #43 in the UK album chart, Cleave has since appeared on numerous “Top 20” lists of 2018, as rock critics around the world summed up their favourite albums of the past 12 months. As the trio launch into 2019 with the European dates of their tour (and a slot at 2000 Trees festival confirmed later in the year), the band have released a brand new music video for their fans and followers to sink their teeth into!
Shot during the London date of their 2018 UK tour by filmmaker Callum Jupp, the footage from Therapy?’s latest video single ‘Kakistocracy’ proves – as countless music critics have stated – that the Irish rock trio are still very much at the top of their game. Those caught in the searing heat of their O2 Academy Islington performance will remember vocalist Andy Cairns’ animated performance, his facial expressions twisting with pained realism as he roared “it’s okay not to be okay!” – a phrase that became something of a tagline in the lead-up to the release of their album.
Andy comments on the band’s latest single:
“Michael actually sent me this riff. It was mid-paced, with a heavy groove, a bit like Helmet. We’ve had a song idea kicking around for a while based around the line “It’s okay not to be okay” and when we got this riff it was such a great head-nodder that it reminded us of something like ‘Unbeliever’ from Troublegum, with that same kind of chunky riff.”
“Lyrically, it’s about division again, the division between the haves and the have-nots. There’s an awful lot of anger and frustration out there right now, and you look at this wealthy country and how it treats people, and so this song is kinda saying “You’ve got a right to be pissed off.” People in our country don’t kick off against injustice enough…”
‘Kakistocracy’ stands as one of the album’s most anthemic offerings, seething with distorted riffing, punk-infused rhythms and Cairns’ unmistakably aggravated vocal spirit. It is a strong, imposing message to all, and a prime example of why Cleave is arguably one of Therapy?’s greatest achievements since the highly-praised, gold-certified 1994 epic ‘Troublegum’.
EUROPEAN TOUR DATESJanuary 2019
23rd January – Botanique, Brussels (Belgium)
24th January – Muziekgieterij Maastricht (Netherlands)
25th January – Fluor, Amersfoort (Netherlands)
26th January – Momfest Festival, Erp (Netherlands)
27th January – Melkweg, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
28th January – Hirsh, Nuremburg (Germany)
30th January – A38, Budapest (Hungary)
31st January – WUK, Vienna (Austria)
February 2019
1st February – Rock Cafe, Prague (Czech Republic)
2nd February – PPC, Graz (Austria)
4th February – Serraglio, Milan (Italy)
5th February – Hall, Padova (Italy)
6th February – Backstage, Munich (Germany)
8th February – Fabrik, Coesefeld, (Germany)
9th February – Mergener Hof, Trier (Germany)
10th February – La Maroquinerie, Paris (France)
14th February – Lutakko, Jyvaskyla (Finland)
15th February – Olympia, Tampere (Finland)
16th February – Virgin Oil Company, Helsinki (Finland)
March 2019
20th March – Nerve Centre, Londonderry (Northern Ireland)
21st March – Roisin Dubh, Galway (Ireland)
22nd March – Dolans, Limerick (Ireland)
23rd March – Cyprus Avenue, Cork (Ireland)
24th March – Spirit Store, Dundalk (Ireland)#
July 2019
13th July – 2000 Trees Festival, Cheltenham (UK)