Avant-Garde Punk Group Meryl Streek Hold Nothing Back With Visceral New Video “Death To The Landlord”

Avant-garde punk producer Meryl Streek has shared another single, paired with a music video, ahead of the release of his debut album. A scathing commentary, “Death To The Landlord” slams the behaviour of Irish politicians and their role in creating the current housing crisis. 

Commenting on the track, Streek says: “I needed a song on the album that was a hook-line-and-sinker representing the fed-up, ordinary, working class people who have been repeatedly sh*t on for many years here in Ireland.” The frustration and disdain are clear in the lyrics, which are at the forefront of the track. Opening with ‘you’ve lied so much your teeth have become rotten, yellow and stained for all the sh*t you’ve been talking,’ it’s immediately clear that Streek is giving voice to the thoughts and feelings of the masses. An anthem of fighting back and bringing power to the everyday person, the steady back beat of the track keeps it moving and cohesive, with a whistle-esque riff and heavy guitars flitting in and out, sure to be stuck in your head. 

“I’m outraged that our political parties here in Ireland are not only lining their own pockets with the taxpayers’ money—with massive salaries for essentially f*cking it up for everyone else but themselves—but that they’re also making money on the side renting sh*t, unaffordable, box-sized apartments to desperate, begging families in need. They’re scum and I’d like them all to know that I’m coming for them,” Streek elaborates. As the song starts to close, he speaks directly to the politicians and landlords in question, saying: ‘I hope you hear this f*cking song and realize the next one’s gonna name every single one of you.’ 

Directed by Peter Kingston, the video stars Irish comedian Joe Rooney (lead singer Guernica and Father Ted actor) and Molly Vulpyne from Dublin punk duo Vulpynes. About the video, Kingston shares that: “We wanted the video to feel like it was set in Dublin but relatable to everyone. We wanted it to look real, the way the city actually is. We toyed with the idea of the video being set in a circus but when Meryl came up with the idea of setting it in his local pub we knew we had the ideal set up for capturing the intimacy and emotion of the track with an angry, intimate performance.”

Streek isn’t one to shy away from spotlighting social issues in his songs. Earlier singles “False Apologies” and “Yesterday” addressed the Irish Catholic Church abuse scandal and issues of alcoholism in Streek’s native homeland, respectively. His debut album, 796, will be released via Venn Records on November 4th.

Live Dates: 

04.11.22 – Dublin – The Workman’s Club (album launch)

28.01.23 – Dublin – The Helix (Bring Them Home Ireland)

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