CHAMELEONS have today, May 29th, released their brand new single, ‘Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing,’ via Metropolis Records. The track is taken from their recently announced and long-awaited album, ‘Arctic Moon,’ which is now available for pre-order.
Vocalist/bassist Vox (Mark Burgess) explains the inspiration behind the new single: “I see too many echoes of the 1930s in what’s going on in the world, which I see as being extremely dangerous both for the country I’ve chosen to live in and the Western world in general.” He adds, “It was the last song to be completed for the album. I’m particularly pleased with the way it turned out, because it was our guitarist Stephen Rice who initially brought the rough idea to the table and we all then collaborated on it to produce the final song.”
‘Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing’ perfectly captures Chameleons’ innate flair for crafting exquisite guitar textures, merging them with Vox’s sharp grasp of melody and wordplay. The song delivers a dark message about the current political climate amidst its thoroughly engaging sound. Reinforcing this theme, the accompanying video splices live performance footage with kaleidoscopic images of war, its effects, and the surrounding propaganda, creating a compelling statement.
“The lyrics came to me quite quickly,” Vox explains. “They reflect what has been happening globally and how senior officials line up to kiss the rings of clowns who regard themselves as self-proclaimed kings rather than elected statesmen.”
‘Arctic Moon,’ set for release on September 12th on Metropolis Records, marks the first full-length album by Chameleons since 2001’s ‘Why Call It Anything?’ Vox concludes, “There is an obvious maturity to the songwriting on this record, and anyone familiar with our past work will hear that this is a positive step forward. While we’re proud of the band’s legacy, we really wanted to forge something fresh while retaining that profound and imaginative quality we’re known for. We think that we have managed to do that and deliver a very strong record!”
The band will continue to tour extensively around the album release, with dates in Spain and Portugal from June 6th-19th, followed by a set at the Forever Now festival in Milton Keynes on June 22nd. They will then return to the US for headlining shows and a dozen dates with The Psychedelic Furs commencing on June 26th. A further headlining tour of North American cities kicks off two weeks after the release of ‘Arctic Moon’, with mainland European dates in Germany and the Benelux scheduled from late October, ahead of a previously announced UK tour in November.
All concert and ticket info can be found here.
About The Chameleons:
Long cited as a hugely influential act, inspiring bands like (The) Verve, Oasis, Interpol, The Killers, Editors, and White Lies, Chameleons are renowned for their transformative catalog and intense, emotionally charged live performances. Their legacy extends far beyond their four studio albums to date. Their widely acclaimed debut, ‘Script of the Bridge’ (1983), has been cited by many as a masterpiece ahead of its time, followed by ‘What Does Anything Mean? Basically!’ (1984), ‘Strange Times’ (1986), and ‘Why Call It Anything?’ (2001).
Their unique sound quickly captivated audiences with its mix of melancholic yet energetic and powerful tunes, hypnotic, ethereal riffs, and a potent, timeless lyrical style. They are considered one of the most influential guitar bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, contributing substantially to the post-punk, shoegaze, and indie scenes.
2024 saw the release of two EPs that kicked off a new chapter for the band: ‘Where Are You?’, consisting of three new songs, and ‘Tomorrow Remember Yesterday,’ featuring five re-recorded archive tracks. ‘Arctic Moon’ sees them propelling forward musically while retaining the essence that originally made them iconic.
“Arctic Moon” Tracklisting:
- Where Are You?
- Lady Strange
- Feels Like The End Of The World
- Free Me
- Magnolia
- David Bowie Takes My Hand
- Saviours Are A Dangerous Thing
The Chameleons Lineup:
- Mark Burgess (Vox) – vocals, bass
- Reg Smithies – guitar
- Stephen Rice – guitar
- Danny Ashberry – keyboards
- Todd Demma – drums
Photo by Mick Peek
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