Chosen by Monk

My latest selection comes from a band to whom I was drawn by their name, as these Liverpool DIY punks keep us occupied until that time when the feeling turns cold with the lead cut from their forthcoming second album.

The opening track from the album and an anthem for solar-challenged goths everywhere, ‘Until The Feeling Turns Cold’ is built around an upbeat melody and a New Romantic howl-to-action against the slumber of warmth-induced comfort and lethargy that comes with the summer months.

Commenting on the track, vocalist Roman Remains says:

The carpet can get pulled at any moment so we gotta try our best to thrive in the moment of inspiration. Everyone loves the summer and the heat but let’s face it—the days are long and nights unsettling, the concrete is dry and wheels roll free too easily. EasyJet envy burns, the insects irritate, and the urge for another can turns into another midsummer moon. We’re most productive in the colder climates. Kicking against the conformity of hibernation, CV get stuff done while the masses wait with wide screen TVs. The B-side to this song could also be called ‘strike while the iron’s hot’. Rough seas make wise sailors, or something like that…

Born from a desire to make androgynous songs amongst a macho musical landscape, the band are indebted to years of service as reluctant protagonists in the city’s loudest back rooms, with members previously appearing in the lines ups of Napalm Death, SSS, Cold Ones, Salem Rages and more. The appeal for Vicars was forming a new guard who struggled with books, yet devoured their pages with an almighty gaze; a gang of side-stage students; mosh-pit mutants.

Two years in the making in-between honing their live chops and creeping up the bill alongside the likes of Bo Ningen, Glitterer, Tokky Horror, Serious Sam Barrett, Bruise Control, and more, the album was conceived and constructed in the draughty, bare-brick local institution of dockside rehearsal rooms Vulcan Studios. Produced by guitarist Adam Clarkson in Vagrant Studios, Southport during October/November 2023, the album was mixed by the band themselves and mastered by Piers Mortimer (Robert Fripp, Creedence Clearwater), and features a guest appearance by composer/saxophonist Daniel Thorne (Erased Tapes) on the track ‘The Reach’.

The band’s 2022 ‘Ritual Discipline’ 12” LP was first issued, with a different lineup, as two self-released ‘Lockdown Tapes’ in January and October of 2020, respectively, The Vicars cemented their current line up with the addition of synth player Gabriella on the compilation ‘Local Lockdown Heritage Hits’, featuring covers of Soft Cell, Mansun, Pink Military and more, introducing her vocals for the first time on 2022 standalone single ‘Possession of Fire’.

  • ‘Curses & Prayers’ will be released on 26 July 2024 via Venn Records.
  • Coughin’ Vicars play The Peer Hat in Manchester on Friday 24 May, Swine Fest in York on Friday 5 July, Leodis Requiem Fest on Friday 12 July, and Rebellion festival in Blackpool on 1 August. They also are planning an album release show on Friday 26 July, with details still to be confirmed.