Drawing us in with a cerebral frequency and compressed guitar featuring textured drums and haunting motifs, Kings County open The Dead of Night with a visceral energy. The opus expands with thought-provoking, poetic prowess to take us on a journey of inner conflict that poignantly confronts the demons that come alive when the world falls silent.
We immediately connect with the darker vibes and the undeniable force of the arrangement. Fusing aggressive guitar work with powerful melodic vocals, Kings County defiantly harnesses the spirit of 90s hard rock with a more contemporary edge. There is a real attitude to the performance with soaring vocals, crushing riffs and a chorus that feels made for a stadium. Fans of Rob Zombie, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Shinedown and Three Days Grace would totally be able to connect with The Dead of Night.
Lyrically, The Dead of Night explores the divide between the person we present to the world and the one we become when nobody’s watching. Released the day before Halloween, we love the idea that darkness isn’t always something to run from but can actually sometimes reveal parts of ourselves that we have been trying to avoid. As vocalist Rob Dexter explains, the song is about “the battles we fight in silence, and the demons that come alive when the rest of the world falls asleep”.
For some background, the song went through a complete musical rethink during the writing process. With the lyrics already in place, the band felt the original direction wasn’t matching their vision. In essence, they started again until the music and message finally came together. Recorded with producer Chuck Alkazian, the finished version has the intensity and attitude Rob wanted, with a vocal performance that really jumps out. His stated aim was to channel his inner Rob Zombie, and that larger-than-life delivery certainly manifests.
Based in Orlando, Florida, Kings County brings together Rob Dexter, Steve Bell, Bill Kania, Joe Lopez and Robbie Dexter. Their influences stretch from The Beatles and classic 70s rock to modern hard rock.
The accompanying video is directed by longtime collaborator Jon Vulpine. It was filmed at an abandoned citrus mill in De Leon Springs. With its industrial decay and practical indoor rain sequence, the epic visuals reinforce the track’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
For sync, The Dead of Night would be a natural fit for The Crow, The Batman, Logan, The Devil’s Rejects, Mad Max: Fury Road and The Matrix. On television, we can imagine it in Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, Peacemaker, Daredevil and The Last of Us.
Needless to say, we are obsessed, and have added The Dead of Night to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY and TIMELESS playlists, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Kings Country, including So Cold, I Ran, and Holding On.