W: Blue Ray

"The song acts as a sort of proverbial notepad—a place to whisper your thoughts out into the open and feel as though they’re being heard."

Bristol’s powerhouse rock trio Krooked Tongue have officially entered a new era with the release of their latest single, ‘I Don’t Believe In Ghosts.’ Serving as a poignant precursor to their debut studio album, I Know A Place (arriving April 24th, 2026), the track marks a daring departure from the high-octane grit that defined their earlier work. After gaining significant momentum through features on Apple Music’s ‘Breaking Hard Rock’ and soundtracking major sporting events like DAZN’s Bivol vs. Beterbiev fight, the band is proving they are capable of much more than just "mosh-inducing" anthems.

Recorded at Stage 2 Studios with long-time collaborator Josh Gallop, the single trades the band's signature punchy grooves for a hauntingly delicate piano arrangement. Frontman Oli Rainsford delivers an uncharacteristically gentle vocal performance, trading his usual roar for a vulnerable whisper. The track explores the "syntax of death," acting as a proverbial notepad for the unspoken thoughts that follow loss. It is a song that embraces silence and space, drawing inspiration from the visual storytelling of the film A Ghost Story to capture the childlike innocence and profound confusion that accompanies grief.

"Death is something so familiar to everyone and yet so alien… music often bridges that gap."

Rainsford describes the song as a "moment to breathe" in a modern age often disconnected from the reality of mortality. By focusing on the "phantom feelings" we experience—like a well-timed breeze or a robin on an autumn morning—the lyrics touch on the purity of the human experience. Though originally written for a Masters dissertation, the band chose to keep the production sparse and authentic for their debut LP, resisting the urge to "slap on extra stuff" in favor of maintaining the song's solemn, emotional weight.

While previous critics have compared their energy to a mix of Queens of the Stone Age and Royal Blood, ‘I Don’t Believe In Ghosts’ showcases a band that is no longer just "straining at the leash," but one that has the confidence to slow down and show its heart. As they prepare for the limited edition vinyl release of I Know A Place, Krooked Tongue have solidified their status as a versatile force in the UK rock scene—one capable of both breaking down defences with sharp melodies and healing them with a single, honest note.