‘AN ANTHEM IN THE MAKING’: THE MURDER CAPITAL SHARE NEW SINGLE ‘CAN’T PRETEND TO KNOW’

SINGLE REVIEW| THE MURDER CAPITAL – CAN’T PRETEND TO KNOW By Keira Knox 4/5

The year 2023 marked a turning point for The Murder Capital. Their highly acclaimed second album, ‘Gigi’s Recovery,‘ debuted at number one in Ireland and broke out of the Top 20 in the UK album charts. The group ventured out on their largest tour of the United States and appeared at numerous international festivals, such as Coachella, Glastonbury, and Rock En Seine, where they played some legendary sets. ‘Can’t Pretend To Know‘ marks The Murder Capital’s first release of 2024, ahead of a short UK tour as well as a supporting slot alongside Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds in Europe.

With its cutting-edge riff and its potential to become an anthem in the making, ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ is the ideal comeback for the Dublin group. It combines every aspect that makes Murder Capital such a distinctive and compelling band. Prioritising urgency, vitality, and freshness, producer John Congelton (St Vincent, Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten) created the track in a hectic and intensive session earlier this year in Los Angeles. With its fresh emphasis and clarity, the song heralds in The Murder Capital’s new chapter.

James McGovern’s rich vocal performance is introduced to the listener with droning bass notes and a pulsing percussion beat. ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ is an unsettling examination of innocence in childhood and all of its substitutes, those fragile bridges we burn while navigating the paths of our youth. The Murder Capital have carved out a space for themselves within the post-punk scene with lyrics that rage against hopelessness.

The Murder Capital is playing with more intensity than ever before, and it seems that one specific riff drives the song along like a pulse. This track’s melody captures the intensity of the tune and lends it a cinematic feel, engrossing you in its tumultuous environment with each listen. ‘Can’t Pretend To Know,‘ feels like an immediate classic because of the band’s masterful blending of psychological burden with unquestionable hooks. It’s strong, relentless, and incredibly unsettling.

UK tour tickets are on general sale on Thursday 27th September at 10am.

Australia and New Zealand dates are on sale at 9am AEST on Wednesday 25th September. Grab yours whilst you can!

Listen to the ‘Can’t Pretend To Know‘ here:

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Keira Knox

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