On 26 April 2024, REGENT release their highly anticipated second ‘Beggars Belief’.
The swift follow-up to 2022’s acclaimed ‘Just a Revolution’, the latest from the ascending Southampton indie-rock outfit finds them leading the charge with an album for the here and now.
A record of politics and people, love and rage, stress and peace, chances and change; ‘Beggars Belief’ sees the band find their A-game for 12 incendiary, anthemic tracks, born of the zeitgeist and destined to be roared out by the masses.
With a UK general election looming large in everyone’s minds, frontman Ben Rooke takes little time in giving listeners his two cents on the current state of things.
“You tell me something, some big fat porky pies. You think that I’m stupid, I see right through those lies” he seethes on opening number “Beggars Belief”, his patent snarl at full lick.
A political uppercut delivered with a knockout rock’n’roll punch, the title-track is a state-of-the-nation address drenched in a seismic, feedback-scrawled score designed to rally the troops. As Rooke explains:
“[Beggars Belief] is a complete dig at the establishment and everything we believe or are told to believe… From the pandemic to wars, the cost of living crisis, to the mockery of the government, and how we the people have been treated these past few years. Corruption runs deep worldwide, not just in this country… I wanted to write a record that sums these times up.”
One of a number of tracks that openly rail against the establishment, ‘Beggars Belief’ is a record that finds the five-piece seizing the megaphone to declare that enough is enough.Take the slow-burning grunge-rock of “Can’t You See”, a sneering takedown of the apparent greed within Whitehall while the vast divides in society continue to widen. Or the Brit-glam stomper “She Checks My Head”, a song that openly derides the cost of living crisis thrown upon us in recent years, while placing the blame squarely at the feet of the government. Elsewhere the cacophonous, feedback squalled “Liberation” calls for an uprising of the people, while its closely related cousin “Set Me Free” envisions the possibilities of a different, freer world; a song that closes their case for change with an emphatic, blazing, technicoloured finale reminiscent of “Champagne Supernova”.
Away from politics and society however, ‘Beggars Belief’ also finds the frontman writing about issues much closer to home. With its jangling “House of the Rising Son” styled intro, the candid “Oh No, I Know” finds Rooke confessing to his past issues with addiction with some of his most tender songwriting so far. Elsewhere, the only too relatable “She Checks My Head” sees him opening up about his personal struggles with mental health. And yet, while there are detours into these darker corners of life, themes of silver linings and the salvation to be found in hope, peace, and love, in all its forms are never far behind. Take the string-laden sentiment of “Let Me In”, a touching tribute to his wife’s good nature and “how love can make you a better person, and can make you reign it in if you feel you are ever falling off the tracks of life”. Or the autobiographical “Here We Go”, a celebration of the healing camaraderie Rooke has found within Regent, as he addresses “how far we’ve come through many setbacks”. Whereas the Ride-like rush of “Flying High” simply champions those universal feelings of “love, hope, faith and everything in between” that bind us all as humans. As Rooke concludes: “Love is the answer through all life’s struggles”.
Featuring the singles “Flying High”, “Liberation”, “Oh No, I Know” and the recently released title-track, ‘Beggars Belief’ finds Regent ready to defy expectations. Taking the revolutionary spirit of their debut to the masses, Regent’s latest sees them sailing with the winds of change and making the statement of their career to date. ‘Beggars Belief’, the new album by Regent, is due for release on 26 April 2024.
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BIOGRAPHY
Purveyors of an insurgent, no-nonsense brand of rock’n’roll, Regent, have forged a reputation as one of Southampton’s finest and fastest emerging acts.
Tackling widespread issues of political mistrust and economic struggles, to more introspective tracks homing-in on personal hardships to the joy to be found in relationships, Regent’s knack for relatable songs and hook-laden tunes has seen their popularity swell in recent years.
Riding high on a string of highly-charged single releases, the band delivered their acclaimed debut LP ‘Just A Revolution’ in 2022. Swiftly following it with recent EP ‘Believe’, the band supported the release with a number of high profile headline shows, festival slots, and supporting shows with notable acts like Reverend & The Makers.
On their journey to date, Regent have earned praise from the likes of Louder Than War, Earmilk and Gigslutz, and have gained radio play from Radio X, Frank Skinner on Absolute Radio, Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing as well as RTE2 in Ireland and SiriusXM in the US. The group’s gripping sound has also attracted attention across the world of TV and sport, with airplay on Soccer AM, Sky Sports Darts, the Premier League, BBC Six Nations Rugby, BT Sport and BBC One’s Match of the Day.
Regent are: Ben Rooke (vocals) // Chris Woolf (lead guitar) // Ed Cesar (rhythm guitar) // Luke Trundell (bass) // Chris Blackman (drums)
Regent will release their eagerly awaited new album ‘Beggars Belief’ on 26 April 2024.
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