THE MURDER CAPITAL: A BEAUTIFUL, INTOXICATING ANGST LIVE

LIVE REVIEW | THE MURDER CAPITAL | LONDON HERE @ OUTERNET 24th April 2025 by Robert McAlaney

Even with the finely tuned balance of the Idles’ energy and, fellow irish comrades, Fontaines D.C.’ poetic lyricism, you can’t let the comparison lead you on. The Murder Capital have a sound that is intrinsically their own. Their first two records ‘When I Have Fears’ and ‘Gigi’s Recovery’ received universal acclaim, with their debut studio album (the former) earning the band a sold out UK and European tour in 2019. Well, The Murder Capital are back with their third studio album, ‘Blindness’ – an album charged with ambition, filled with rich perspectives and fuelled by the band’s members’ recent displacement. A literal geographic displacement, with lead vocalist James McGovern and guitarist Damien Tuit in London, fellow guitarist Cathal Roper in Donegal, bassist Gabriel Paschal Blake in Letterkenny and last but certainly not least Diarmuid Brennan on drums in Berlin. Can the band reconvene and release another belter? Response to the album says yes, they absolutely can, but we caught up with them on their world tour to see if they could still hold up live.

Before we stage dive into The Murder Capitals set, an honourable mention for the support; Cusk. Cusk are a very new band, yet to officially release any tracks but boy, did they leave an impression that night! The band strolled onto the stage with a confidence that typically alludes to cockiness when not executed properly – luckily for us, Cusk brought their axe. Haunting vocals from the female lead brought the audience’s pre show chatter to a halt, with lyrics painting a picture of shameful self indulgence – the crowd certainly indulged. I did not know it was possible for a banjo to be played with such intricacy, but to alternate effortlessly to a violin mid-track, took the air from my lungs. The band are bringing back yearning with a bold and unapologetic sound that is, above all else, passionately raw.

It was then time for the main event, truth be told I was sad to see Cusk disappear behind the curtain, but when The Murder Capital dawned the stage, we were all reminded who we were really here for. As the crowd erupted with anticipation, McGovern wagged his arm through the stage’s red mist and a ferocious mosh pit appeared before me, the lead was like Moses with his red sea. ‘The Fall’ blasted from the stage and The Murder Capital played like a well oiled machine – an industrial behemoth. The audience went ballistic for drummer Brennan who seemed to be denting the sound barrier itself – he struck his kit with such intensity I swear I saw it bruise. If the studio recording of ‘More is Less’ sounds mental then buckle up for the live performance; pure unfiltered rage poured out from McGovern’s jaws as he screeched for ‘MORE’, with the audience throttling his cries right back at him. The band performed with a beautiful angst that intoxicated the crowd, with McGovern swaying his tambourine around the stage – it was as if we had accepted the invitation to an ancient ritual. Something was certainly summoned within the venue’s dark walls, a sonic rupture of reality occurred. By this point in the show The Murder Capital owned the stage, they had collared it and had no use for a leash.

The opening riff of ‘A Distant Life’ was strummed and brought the chaos to a temporal halt, slowing down the evening with a display of The Murder Capitals versatility. The guitars were shredded with a glacial level of cool, in fact shredded would be an understatement; the strings were reduced to dust. The band perform with a beautiful angst, paired with McGovern’s ruthless intent that resonates with the audience for it is earnest, Murder Capital were at the wheel of a chaotic and blissful engine, that every member operates with great skill and little effort. Both brother and sister tracks of ‘Slowdance’ saw dangerous guitar chimes bounce from ear to ear; something was certainly bubbling from the depths of the stage as McGovern howled every word with a vicious fury. The band were nomadic spirits traversing a rough and unforgiving terrain. ‘Swallow’ is a track that I urge everyone to experience in the flesh, you’re going to have to trust me on this one, with a gravelly voice that dances around guitars that twang as they would in a dream, it was beautiful.

The Murder Capital have tracks that draw from life’s forsaken beauty, They make music for anybody who has ever chased a train or danced under a streetlight. The Murder Capital also have tracks that strike fear in the hearts of any venue security team. So they’re the perfect punk band.