New York – U.K. punk band The Virginmarys returns with sophomore album Divides. The English trio of Ally Dickaty (vocals/guitar), Danny Dolan (drums), and Matt Rose (bass) make anthems that bellow fury and political commentary, brimming with the honesty of 70s British rock, inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, and the Sex Pistols. The energetic three-piece brings potent punk rock with sophomore release, Divides (Wind-up Records), all while kicking and screaming.
The collection of twelve songs is unapologetically honest, confronting life today in modern Britain. Divides is a call to arms. The three rockers ask anyone feeling disillusioned to “stand up and unite in love – not to divide in fear.” In an in-depth interview with Best New Bands, frontman Ally Dickaty said:
I’ve never known it, growing up, to be as tough as it is right now in the U.K. with inequality. It’s just ridiculous right now. There’s more suits and policies than I’ve ever experienced… I’m watching what’s happening in The House of Commons. Politicians are acting like children. It’s just pretty heartbreaking, really, and it’s not in touch with the real world. I don’t know, I come from a background where, no matter how successful I become or not become, I will never really see myself, you know, being deserved of any more money than anyone else. That’s just not the way I think it should work. No matter who you are, you should always have some shelter and food, and that’s just not happening.
Divides is The Virginmarys’ ultimate form of anarchy. Dickaty stresses the overall theme of the Divides focuses on “the divides among people, freedom and power, injustice, inequality and corruption. Anger, disillusionment, injustice, frustration about where I feel we are in today’s society. History repeating. Restraint by systems that benefit the few and the choices left to take part or be cast aside and face persecution. The rise of depression and anxiety and use of anti-depressants and drugs across the globe. Disillusion in politicians and democracy. There’s a lot of divides with us in Britain, many created by the government and media turning people against one another. We are brainwashed with who to love, who to fear, who is good and who is evil.”
