Simon RushworthSong
White Knuckle Riding
Artist
Virginmarys
Virginmarys backstory
When Virginmarys first burst onto the scene in the mid noughties, the edgy trio breathed new life into the British alt rock scene.
And after dropping a series of limited release EPs, Ally Dickaty, Danny Dolan and Matt Rose doubled down on their uniquely provocative sound.
Debut album King Of Conflict — released in 2013 — won critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic and Virginmarys were named Best Breakthrough Act at the Classic Rock Awards in the same year.
The Gil Norton-produced Divides (2016) proved to be another creative tour de force for the Macclesfield band before the decision to go fully in dependent brought about 2018’s Northern Sun Sessions.
Six years separated the band’s third and fourth long players but Virginmarys were back with a bang on The House Beyond The Fires.
Beyond The House Of Fires — released on May 22 — takes those songs and begins again with a series of bold reinterpretations.
In frontman Ally Dickaty’s own words
“White Knuckle Riding is a song about despair.
“I became very unwell — before the lockdown — with Covid and what followed was a really rough time of my life. This song is documenting that time.
“To become as unwell as I did whilst wrestling mental health problems during lockdown was probably the toughest time of my life and this is why the song is so dark in content.
“Musically it’s one of my favourites I’ve written and it perfectly lent itself to the piano
“A lot of our work is thoughtful, dark and emotive so the piano works perfectly for it.”
The verdict on White Knuckle Riding
Stripped back and pared down, this emotionally-charged take on the deeply personal White Knuckle Riding is Virginmarys at their most powerful and affecting.
Listening to Ally Dickaty tell the story of lockdown’s darkest days is genuinely moving — just as the accompanying video clip is essential viewing.
Virginmarys’ frontman battles against his natural instinct to let rip as he holds back and holds steady on what’s been reimagined as a stunning piano ballad.
And it’s a fight Dickaty wins in spectacular style as he grows into White Knuckle Riding’s slow build with determined composure.
Virginmarys have never been a band to follow convention. Ripping up the rule book where their own material’s concerned makes perfect sense.
White Knuckle Riding reimagined is thrilling and thought provoking in equal measure.
It’s proof positive that one of the UK’s most underrated duos continues to punch well above its weight.
And it argues less can be more — even when you’ve built your reputation on muscular alt rock with a ferocious bite.
What’s next for Virginmarys
Beyond The House Of Fires drops on May 22.
Virginmarys kick off their UK headline tour at Southampton’s Joiners on May 9.
The band appears at this year’s Maid Of Stone Festival on July 9.
Main band image by Debbi Ellis