Glasgow band Flair return with Ritual. A tension-led indie release pushing darker themes through a tight, reverb-heavy guitar system.
Formed by Tony Collum, Louis Collum, Jamie Hamilton, Jonnie Wilkie, and Callum McArthur, the five-piece continue to sharpen a sound built on pressure, space, and direct phrasing. Following Nausea (120K+ streams), the new single extends a phase moving with clearer intent.
Ritual lands ahead of their EP For Lack of a Better Word (July 10th, Revo Pro). A project shaped by years of live repetition, system refinement, and momentum building from Run Away into festival and award traction.
Ritual runs on contrast. Wide reverb, sharp hooks, and a front-facing vocal that carries the weight without overloading the mix. The tone stays raw and restless, with melodic lift cutting through abrasive detail.
Lyrically, the track doesn’t soften the message. It moves through themes of addiction, paranoia, and repetition, building a claustrophobic loop where tension never fully resolves. Tony Collum explains:
‘Ritual’ is a hate letter to addiction, and to the ritual of crack dependency. This track was originally our second ever single release. With high hopes as it really was our first attempt at deep, meaningful lyrics that portrayed who we are as a band. As the song has grown and developed, we felt strongly that we should match its growth with a fresh new recording and breathe new life into a song that gets our strongest crowd reaction. We felt ‘Ritual’ demonstrated the darker, grittier side of our sound, and the perfect compliment to ‘Nausea’, reminding you that it’s always darkest before the dawn.
Reworking the track reflects their approach. Refine what hits, don’t overreach. Live response feeds the studio, keeping the system tight.
With headline dates set, they stay focused—locking sound, message, and delivery, and letting the records do the work.
LIVE DATES:
30th May 2026 – Bring The Noise Festival, Sheffield
26th June 2026 – Dead Wax, Birmingham
17th July 2026 – King Tuts, Glasgow (Headline)
5th September 2026 – The Dublin Castle, London