BENEFITS - FLAG / EMPIRE VINYL (7")

7" VINYL

Release Date: 27th May 2022

"Benefits are an issues-based music collective from Teesside in the North East of England. They write songs about the urgencies that concern them, and they play them loud.

Forming in 2019 and consisting of Kingsley Hall on vocals, Robbie Major and Hugh Major on synths and noise, and Jonny Snowball on drums, they quickly evolved from a standard shouty punk rock outfit into a minimalist, overtly political band that merges noise, hip-hop and industrial rock, creating an effect that feels urgent, darkly hilarious and unsettling all at once. 

Thus far, Benefits have been completely DIY yet, via a succession of digital singles and accompanying videos through 2021, they built a following that enabled them to complete a sold-out headline UK tour in March 2022. They also gained fans in high places, including Sleaford Mods, Black Francis, Garbage and Elijah Wood and Steve Albini.

James and Ryan of Yard Act were also instant admirers and that’s where their label Zen F.C. comes in. Using their ill-gotten major label gains Zen F.C. are pressing Benefit’s single ‘Flag’ (backed with ‘Empire’) on vinyl."