Track of the Day: The Wood Burning Savages - 'Hand to Mouth'

Derry quartet The Wood Burning Savages - composed of vocalist Paul Connolly, bassist Dan Acheson, drummer Elliott Finlay and guitarist Michael Woods - have returned with a blistering new single today, titled 'Hand to Mouth'.

It marks the first piece of new music from the rock four-piece since their Northern Ireland Music Prize winning album Stability.

The track is a bruising blast of pent-up vitriol, driven by jagged guitars and rapid drums. A swift, pummelling cry of spirited defiance, it creates further anticipation for the band's forthcoming UK and Ireland tour in the Spring. The gigs will be their first run of shows since last year's festival outings, which included SXSW in Austin, Texas.

Written in the shadow of austerity and crippling economic despair, 'Hand to Mouth' sees frontman Paul Connolly unleash a raw tirade of frustration. Matching guitar noise with the anger at people struggling to live day-to-day, the rocker's vocals manage to sound more captivating than ever before.

"I regularly talk to people who tell me more and more that they feel like they have been forgotten about or left behind." says Connolly.

"This song is a signal fire to say that things haven't been right for a long time, but now enough is enough. We're not going to stand by and let generations of hard work and community collaboration be ripped apart. People deserve dignity, and it's not up for negotiation."

The Wood Burning Savages are often compared to Yard Act, Death From Above 1979 and Stiff Little Fingers for their pulsating riffs and tensely political edge.

Alongside their NI Music Prize gong for their powerful debut album Stability, which saw them beat out the likes of Snow Patrol, Ash and Bicep to be the first self released artist to win Northern Ireland Album of the Year, the band also were awarded the prize of Best Live Act.

Previous live highlights include Left Field at Glastonbury festival and supporting Snow Patrol at their sell out home-coming show in front of 30,000 people. Check out their upcoming show dates below.

Listen to 'Hand to Mouth'.

The Wood Burning Savages Tour Dates:

MARCH
25th - Limelight 2, Belfast
30th - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
31st - Head of Steam, Newcastle

APRIL
1st - The Jacaranda, Liverpool
2nd - Gullivers, Manchester
4th - The Moon, Cardiff
5th - Crofters Rights, Bristol
6th - The Grace, London
7th - The Star Inn, Guildford
8th - Hope & Ruin, Brighton

MAY
12th - Grand Social, Dublin