The Red Lite District tear the bandage clean off with their explosive new single, “You Were Never in Love.” This four-piece punk rock outfit from Glasgow, Scotland is not here to whisper their message they scream it from the rooftops, and you can’t help but feel it in your bones.
The track is a sonic gut-punch right out of the gate. It’s quick, it’s primitive, and it never lets up. But beneath the distortion and pummeling drums is something very personal. With “You Were Never in Love,” The Red Lite District capture that sickening moment of romantic confrontation the chill right where love melts into despair, where you finally see someone for who they are.
This is not your dad’s punk rock, however. OK, the roots are there gritty guitars, snarling vocals and that delish don’t-give-a-damn attitude but what distinguishes this band is its modern edge. There’s an atmospheric undercurrent that flows beneath the chaos, giving the track resonance without dulling its punch. The Red Lite District know just when to spice things up without going overboard.
Lyrically, the group doesn’t mince words. The blunt honesty is brutal and refreshing. It’s like a rejection letter from a one-sided breakup turned anthem, and it is meant to be played loud, screamed along to and perhaps even sobbed a little bit to in the dark. There’s a cathartic quality that reminds us what punk rock is still able to do.
As the song rushes toward a climax, there’s not even a tidy resolution just naked, unvarnished feeling lingering in the air. And maybe that’s the point. Love isn’t always pretty, and The Red Lite District give us all the mess and tell us to feel it. Mission accomplished.