‘Rivers of Heresy’: the album Benefits call “uncomfortable and perfect”
Uncomfortable times call for uncomfortable measures. Back when our ‘Best of 2023’ selection was heaping praise on Benefits this Listmas, they were modest enough to share the anti-fan-mail that called it “so fucking ugly” alongside it.
In fairness, it is quite ugly, but the Middlesbrough band could turn to Serge Gainsbourg for their defence, with the late French oddball once espousing: “Ugliness is in a way superior to beauty because it endures.” That quote seems even more apt given the rugged, industrial nature of the Benefits sound.
But the gentlemen in the band were keen to tell us that they weren’t the only ones reflecting these fractured times with a pungent vengeance. They also had Empire State Bastard, among others, for company. If what Nina Simone said is right when she explained, “an artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times,” then perhaps the Bastards were also onto something with their bludgeon.
The British duo got heavy with their vitriol, which, once again, might not be to everyone’s taste, but Benefits certainly liked it. They told us: “It’s brutal slabs of metal, righteous and angry but interspersed with moments of absolute psyche beauty. I love it because it’s the sound of amazing (and familiar) musicians pushing themselves in directions that you wouldn’t necessarily expect them to be.”
They concluded by saying: “It’s uncomfortable and perfect.” That discomfort was very much by design, with the band’s Mike Vennart saying his intention was to purposefully create “the most fucking poisonous vile music” – and while many would then say, ‘I’ll stop you there mate, that’s not for me, I’m into that pleasant, satisfying stuff’ – Benefits were happy to embrace the brutality.
Like it or loathe it, this punishing piece of hardcore has been hailed by musicians who can see past its stark surface.
You can check out the album below, but we’ll stress once more for good measure. Just because Benefits liked it doesn’t mean you will, too.
