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Siracuse - Chase The Morning
Cheltenham’s Siracuse returned with their first single of 2025 ‘Chase The Morning’ at the end of May. Released via Vibrant Sky Records, it was produced by Dave Draper in Pershore, at The Old Cider Press Studio. It follows last year’s hedonistic ‘Simple Pleasures’ with both expected to feature on their new album due in 2026.
The thunderous intro lands you in ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’s rabid intention of world domination. From there, through a divine key change, they depart from Oasis and forge a new path of intoxication and aspiration but with greater heart.
With each circling year, Ben Zakotti - frontman, guitarist, poet in chords - edges closer to the ranks of the almost-forgotten greats. Once, the phrase belonged to the slow-blooming, the ill-starred, the haunted. Now, in 2025, Zakotti stares down a music world hollowed and hunched. Even the stations that once swore by bands have drawn up the ladder, leaving echoes where anthems should be.
With hope now an almost bygone era sentiment, Zakotti’s performance becomes more vital. As his hypnotic vocal decrees, “take your chance to electrify” and “chase the morning”, a generation of guitar fans fed up with the lack of exposure have their clarion call. Images of stadiums shaking with limbs flying to this electrifying anthem become the goal, an insurrection among guitar lovers imminent. Their time miust be now!
2025 is going to be the year that Oasis came back. It should be about Pastel’s debut and The Bracknall’s seminal second album. It should be about Marseille, Rolla, and The Crooks selling out venues. It should be about Siracuse!
Siracuse - Simple Pleasures
We review ‘Simple Pleasures’, the latest single from Cheltenham band Siracuse.
Image courtesy of Goldstein United Mgmt
Cheltenham outfit Siracuse recently returned with their latest single, ‘Simple Pleasures,’ via Vibrant Sky Records. The single is backed by the angelic euphoria of ‘You Change,’ and a defined live version of ‘Lossen Your Grip’ on Spotify.
*banner image credit: @james_taking_pictures
Lyrically, Ben Zakotti finds himself in a carefree head space. As seen on ‘Saviour’ and So Serene’, shackle-free is where Zakotti thrives. His innate ability to be in the moment while creating rock music carnage around with nods to the Stones, the Primals, and Kasabian is enough to keep Siracuse’s stick rising into these bleak winter months.
The pulsating intro pushes the hedonism of Soundtrack of Our Lives to the edge of what is sane. Debauched, with the threat of violence lurking, it showcases how intoxicating rock ‘n’ roll’s three chords can still be.
Siracuse is rapidly becoming one of the UK’s best-kept secrets, and the time feels right for that to change. From big epics to short blasts of glory, they have the rock ‘n’ roll cannon to change lives.
Siracuse – All To You
Image & artwork courtesy of the band.
Downtempo from ‘Saviour’ for the most part, Siracuse tap into the earnest power of The Enemy’s acoustic guitars on ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ and a vocal to rival Liam Gallagher’s search for the celestial.
Lyrically, it’s Siracuse’s finest work to date. Songwriter Ben Zakotti offers guidance to the young and downtrodden to keep on pushing. There’s a power to the lyrics which can only come from a place of love. Perhaps a partner or a child, something that binds you forever through thick and thin!
The gentle amble erupts into life akin to DMA’s ‘Lay Down’ and ‘Feels Like 37’ in the closing stages. A moment of chaos and melody come together to light up the love in Zakotti’s heart.
Where ‘Saviour’ spiralled with personal intent to escape for today, ‘All To You’ inspires tomorrow. Two singles into 2023, Siracuse are becoming utterly unmissable!
Click the image below for tickets to see Siracuse at this years Lakfest:
Sircacuse - Saviour
Cheltenham-based Siracuse have returned after three years to release their new single ‘Saviour’ via Vibrant Sky Records.
Cheltenham-based Siracuse have returned after three years to release their new single ‘Saviour’ via Vibrant Sky Records. In 2020, they forged life-long devotion on the underground circuit with their volatile debut album ‘Forever’. Can ’Saviour’ stack up to its power?
Where ‘Forever’ was hell-bent on destruction, ‘Saviour’ is on the precipice of the looking glass but not yet through it. A vastness worthy of Soundtracks Of Our Lives has infiltrated their penchant for psychedelia and created a joyous realm to reside in.
Image and artwork courtesy of Lloyd Jefferies
Frontman Ben Zakotti’s vocal taps into the solo era vocal of Liam Gallagher. Searching for that great melodic hook to bind us once more. Tinged with attitude and love equally alongside the looping guitars also brings the early indie meanderings of Tim Burgess into view.
Two minutes in, ‘Saviour’ could blissfully fade out to be a fine single. Siracuse however have other ambitions. The trip they’ve sauntered on hits the release valve with ecstatic results. Spiralling guitars chime alongside their cinematic vision. The groove of Charlatan’s ‘Then’ is given the lysergic beauty of John Squire to move Siracuse from also-rans to title contenders.
With DMA’s cementing their place at the top of the UK’s beloved bands, 2023 could be the moment others break through as a new generation discover the joys of freeing rock ‘n’ roll music. Siracuse could and should be making their way to the hearts and minds of young and old record collectors alike on this showing.
Siracuse - Forever
Cheltenham trio Siracuse have followed 2018’s ‘Control’ EP with their debut album ‘Forever’. Can they channel the intensity of the EP into the longer format and create a big future?
‘Control’, featured on the EP gives a firm answer to this. Yes. Viscous psychedelic guitars parade as weapons of mass destruction. Frontman, Ben Zakotti has hit a sweet spot vocally, nestling in between Tom Meighan and John McClure. This again occurs on the Twisted Wheel bombast of ‘Into the Night’.
There are moments where the intensity and enjoyment remain but the originality slips. ‘The Keeper’, melodic and memorable, is, in essence, a Liam Gallagher solo song. Meanwhile, ‘Whirlpool’, was the latter-day stadium filler for Oasis that led to their slow demise. Even on ‘Forever’ and ‘Control’ when they find a fire, it’s too indebted to BRMC and Twisted Wheel alike for them to nudge the rock n wheel towards their identity.
However, ‘Forever’, has an innate ability to make you live in the moment. The wheel is not so much nudged and more skyrocketed. ‘Rebels’ shows Tony McCarroll just how ‘Bring It On Down’ was meant. Will Hall’s launches behemoth gunshots that will reverberate through your soul. Meanwhile, Zakotti’ s guitars are entrenched with a menace that demands attention.
Wall’s drumming again shines bright on ‘Love Stands Tall’. The frenetic pace conjures images of snake bite sodden indie dancefloors bursting into chaos. Zakotti’s astonishing licks capture the ‘There and Then’ era of Noel’s playing via Marr’s disco propensity.
A Primal Scream sense of maturity emerges on ‘Shadow Walkers’. Zakotti nullifies his vocals with lo-fi production and allows the band’s destructive take on ‘Barbarism Begins at Home’. To flourish.
Them, on ‘Loosen Your Grip’ and So Serene’, they offer the album’s true moments of ecstasy. ‘Loosen Your Grip’, vocally, is too reliant on the ferocity of Tom Meighan’s ‘Reason Is Treason’ and Liam’s ‘Rock n Roll Star’. However, it’s wrapped up in a feverish explosion of noise that is sure to create indelible memories.
‘So Serene’, showcases an ambition and togetherness they can build live sets around. The hazy melancholy swirls until Zakotti’s guitar parts offer a stunning release of tension. No matter how much society regresses, cuts services, and denies a future to the next generation, bands like Siracuse kindle the seeds of revolution we all crave.
Siracuse is not looking to re-event the wheel but, they are looking to reawaken many of rock ‘n’ rolls facets that have been lost of late. Escapist, volatile and integrity will keep you coming back to ‘Forever’. Especially those moments where their identity is at its murkiest. Hope is born in those tracks that, if they can clarify their own vision, then something truly great lies ahead.