by Chris Hatch

Francis Of Delirium’s latest single lays down an assured marker that the band are ready to climb out of the grungy gloom and catch a glimpse of the limelight.

With a handful of EPs under their belt, Francis Delirium have been visibly growing in confidence with each release, as a result Come Out And Play feels like a band absolutely brimming with ambition. There are familiar elements from this year’s Wading EP – a rumbling bassline, alt-rock guitars, soaring vocals – but Come Out And Play feels twice as tall and twice as wide. There’s a seriousness and atmospheric weight to the production and playing that’s akin to Smashing Pumpkins at their black-hearted best, while the slashing, staccato barre chords on the chorus have the sound of a band who have found exactly when less is more.

Main songwriter, the multi-talented Jana Bahrich, sculpts, paints, and animates amongst a plethora of other creative endeavours, but on Francis Of Delirium’s latest single it feels like there’s no more need for experimentation, as Come Out And Play is a surefooted statement of who the band are.

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