The newly released collaboration between BIG SPECIAL and John Grant, STAY DOWN, LAZARUS, is a deeply brooding track that brings together two unique musical forces. Released via SO Recordings, this single is an atmospheric journey, rich with tension and introspective lyricism, driven by a shared disillusionment with societal promises. BIG SPECIAL's Joe Hicklin describes it as a “big moan” about the myth of social mobility—a sentiment that resonates profoundly in the song’s raw, dark energy.
From the start, STAY DOWN, LAZARUS calls on the ever-reliable-BIG-SPECIAL-pulsing-rhythms, enveloping them in the industrial-influenced sonic world that Big Special has quickly made their own. Their debut album, Postindustrial Hometown Blues, which recently broke into the UK Top 40, has already established the Black Country duo as a major up-and-coming force in the alternative scene. This track continues that momentum, amplifying the band's melancholic yet powerful sound, and it gets an extra layer of depth thanks to John Grant's contribution.
Grant, whose deep, textured vocals are unmistakable, fits seamlessly into the track’s brooding atmosphere. His involvement adds a haunting gravitas, with his baritone voice intertwining with Hicklin's in a way that heightens the song’s dark message. There's a palpable sense of frustration, but also resignation, as the two artists reflect on the false hope of "rising up" in a society that demands conformity.
Musically, the song's driving bass and sharp, moody production keep the intensity simmering from start to finish. It feels like a natural evolution for Big Special, whose previous festival performances at Glastonbury, Green Man, and Reading & Leeds have already drawn significant attention. STAY DOWN, LAZARUS only strengthens their reputation as a band unafraid to tackle heavy themes head-on, and doing so with a compelling blend of industrial rock and post-punk aesthetics.
With a European tour supporting John Grant this winter and a headlining show at the O2 Forum in London set for March 2025, BIG SPECIAL are riding high on their rising success. The collaboration on STAY DOWN, LAZARUS is not only a highlight in their already significant career but also a testament to the creative chemistry between two distinct musical worlds. The result is a track that feels both raw and refined, somber yet electrifying, and deeply relatable in its bleak honesty.
Fans of both Big Special’s hard-hitting sound and John Grant’s dark storytelling will find a lot to love here. STAY DOWN, LAZARUS speaks directly to the listener’s sense of disillusionment, making it a powerful anthem for anyone who's ever felt held down by the weight of unfulfilled promises.
BIG SPECIAL 2024 LIVE DATES:
17 Oct - Hackney Church, London, UK + (SOLD OUT)
18 Oct - Hackney Church, London, UK +
19 Oct - The Fire Station, Sunderland, UK +
21 Oct - Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK +
22 Oct - Vicar Street, Dublin, IE + (SOLD OUT)
24 Oct - The Tramshed, Cardiff, UK +
25 Oct - Beacon, Bristol, UK +
26 Oct - De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill, UK + (SOLD OUT)
28 Oct - Town Hall, Birmingham, UK + (SOLD OUT)
29 Oct - Epic Studios, Norwich, UK +
31 Oct - New Century Hall, Manchester, UK + (SOLD OUT)
01 Nov - Project House, Leeds, UK + (SOLD OUT)
02 Nov - Philharmonic, Liverpool, UK +
05 Nov - Melgweg, Amsterdam, NL (John Grant only)
06 Nov - Kulturkirche, Cologne, DE +
07 Nov - Columbia Theater, Berlin, DE +
09 Nov - Train, Aarhus, DK +
10 Nov - Vega, Copenhagen, DK +
11 Nov - Nalen, Stockholm, SE +
13 Nov - Rockefeller Music Hall, Oslo, NO +
15 Nov - Rolling Stone Beach Festival, DE &
29 March 2025 - O2 Forum, Kentish Town, London, UK $
+ = Supporting John Grant
& = Festival show
$ = BIG SPECIAL headline show
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