As December Falls have just released ‘Tears’, a defiant and hopeful pop-punk anthem. ‘Tears’ is the third single taken from their upcoming album, Happier, due to be released on August 6th.
The track begins light and sparkly, contrasting with its initially downtrodden lyrics. But, this is not a track about moping. By the time we return to the same glittering melody at the end, we’ve been on a journey of determination, grit and hope.
“God know that I need saving / But I don’t want your help / Heaven knows I need no saviour because I can always save myself” sings vocalist Bethany Hunter, transitioning easily within one line from confrontational and punchy, to smooth and melodic. Bethany Hunter’s vocals are part of what makes As December Falls such a great band to listen to. Her voice is perfect for this genre, clear and effortless. She soars towards the bigger notes and conveys the lyrics’ defiant spirit without ever even slipping into petulance. The sentiment is clear, determined, and no backing down.
Alongside Bethany Hunter, the Nottingham-born band is made up of Ande Hunter and Timmy Francis on guitar, whose soaring major riffs in this track are as irresistible as the vocals, particularly around the chorus. Drummer Lukas James, meanwhile, ensures we want to keep jumping, and brings some light and shade to their tracks too.
This perfectly balanced spirit is reminiscent of the offering of another British pop-punk four-piece, Hot Milk’s ‘Take Your Jacket’.
The music video is the ideal companion to this galvanising track. We flick between videos of the band performing in a grand house, and footage of Bethany walking through the city and the countryside. The energy inside the house is infectious, particularly Lukas James’. The misty nature and running water that surrounds Hunter as she walks serves as a form of pathetic fallacy, never more so than when we end inside a cave, panning slowly towards the light.
Speaking to Rock Sound, Bethany stated that this track was: “The perfect way to sum up the whole record” and teased honesty and pain in equal measure on their upcoming August album. Happier was recorded by John Mitchell, someone who has worked with You Me At Six and Enter Shikari previously, and promises a darker, heavier sound than their first self-titled effort. As December Falls’ 2020 tour was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, and new dates are due to be announced alongside the reschedules soon.
