Constant Noise

Consisting of fourteen songs ranging between one to six minutes each, Constant Noise succeeds the duo's 2023 debut project, Nails. Described as incorporating synths, disco, and themes of mortality, grief, and political state of the United Kingdom, the album was produced and mixed by James Welsh and James Adrian Brown.{{Cite magazine |last=Reilly |first=Nick |date=20 March 2025 |title=Benefits: 'Repeating Ourselves Would Have Been a F***ing Waste of Time' |url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/features/benefits-interview-constant-noise-48704/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-GB}} In an interview with NME, Hall referred to the work as "an angry album", referencing their anger and rage, as a reason.

The first single of the album "Land of the Tyrants" features singer Zera Tønin and was released on 17 September 2024.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Tyler |date=17 September 2024 |title=Benefits Unveil New Single, "Land Of The Tyrants" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/benefits-unveil-new-single-land-of-the-tyrants |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}} "Relentless" was released as the second single on 13 November 2024, featuring The Libertines singer and guitarist Pete Doherty.{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=13 November 2024 |title=UK Duo Benefits Announce 2Nd Album, Share "Relentless" Ft Pete Doherty |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/uk-duo-benefits-announce-2nd-album-share-relentless-ft-pete-doherty/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=BrooklynVegan}}{{Cite web |last=Brannigan |first=Paul |date=13 November 2024 |title=Benefits Share New Single Relentless, Featuring The Libertines' Pete Doherty, Announce New Album Constant Noise, UK Tour Plans |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/benefits-share-new-single-relentless-announce-new-album-constant-noise |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=Louder |language=en}} The third single, "Missiles", was released on 24 December 2024.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Beats Per Minute

| rev1score = 81%

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = {{Rating|8|10}}

| rev3 = DIY

| rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}

| rev4 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev4score = {{Rating|9|10}}

| rev5 = The Skinny

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}

}}

Louder Than War described Constant Noise as a "confidently eclectic beast; effortlessly moving from floor-shaking beats to ambient soundscapes." The Quietus remarked "In contrast to the blunt acrimony of 2023's Nails, Constant Noise seeks a dark euphoria through the nuanced interplay of light and shade to address collective trauma."{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Robert |date=8 April 2025 |title=Benefits – Constant Noise |url=https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/benefits-constant-noise-review/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=The Quietus |language=en-GB}} Clash Magazine referred to it as "a subdued yet persistent diatribe against misinformation and war, commentating on the tangled state of British politics," and rated it eight out of ten.{{Cite web |last=Mellen |first=James |date=26 February 2025 |title=Benefits – Constant Noise |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/benefits-constant-noise/ |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=Clash Magazine |language=en-GB}}

British magazine The Skinny assigned a rating of four out of five for the album, noting "On their latest album, Constant Noise, Benefits shift between EDM, techno, rave and bleak, apocalyptic sonic wastelands."{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Christopher |date=17 March 2025 |title=Benefits – Constant Noise Album Review |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/benefits-constant-noise |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=The Skinny |language=en}} Los Angeles-based online publication Beats Per Minute gave the album a rating of 81% and commented "Anger is an energy, but it needs to be euphoric, collective, and righteous if it is to have value beyond the moment. Constant Noise is all of these things." The album received a nine-out-of-ten rating from English magazine The Line of Best Fit, which stated that "With this album, they've crafted something that is still powerful, vital and confrontational, but balanced between fury and finesse."{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Matt |date=17 March 2025 |title=Benefits: Constant Noise Review – Precision Fury |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/benefits-constant-noise-clarity-precision-within-fury |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}

NME called the album "a masterful and measured dose of reality against a void of humanity – and their best work to date."{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=21 March 2025 |title=Benefits: "'Decency' Doesn't Make for a Good Headline – No One Wants Pop Stars with Principles" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/benefits-interview-constant-noise-new-album-punk-tour-gig-prices-principles-3848217 |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Rating the album four and a half stars, Sarah Jamieson of DIY Magazine noted that "it's an album that's vast in scope – both musically and lyrically – with the unhinged moments of their debut pulled back in favour of more dance-orientated elements."{{Cite web |last=Jamieson |first=Sarah |date=19 March 2025 |title=Benefits – Constant Noise |url=https://diymag.com/review/album/benefits-constant-noise |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=DIY |language=en}}

"Land of the Tyrants" was noted as an electronica song criticizing public servants and apathy in the United Kingdom. It was compared to "Star Guitar" by the Chemical Brothers due to similarities in rhythm. "The Victory Lap", features a club instrumental and centers on the theme of collective mindset within the nation, while "Terror Forever" was stylistically described as containing elements of jazz. "Blame" infuses electronic music and was musically compared to the styles of Leftfield and Underworld. "Missiles" features a spoken word commentary about the war in Gaza, and "Lies and Fear" integrates lo-fi music, blast beat, and the musical style of Nails.

{{Track listing

| headline = Constant Noise track listing

| total_length = 50:59

| title1 = Constant Noise

| length1 = 3:05

| title2 = Land of the Tyrants

| note2 = featuring Zera Tønin

| length2 = 3:06

| title3 = The Victory Lap

| length3 = 4:16

| title4 = Lies and Fear

| length4 = 1:47

| title5 = Missiles

| length5 = 5:49

| title6 = Blame

| length6 = 3:51

| title7 = Continual

| length7 = 3:03

| title8 = Divide

| note8 = featuring Shakk

| length8 = 5:42

| title9 = Relentless

| note9 = featuring Pete Doherty

| length9 = 3:59

| title10 = Terror Forever

| length10 = 1:03

| title11 = Dancing on the Tables

| length11 = 3:14

| title12 = Everything Is Going to Be Alright

| length12 = 3:52

| title13 = The Brambles

| length13 = 3:34

| title14 = Burnt Out Family Home

| length14 = 4:38

}}

Credits for Constant Noise adapted from Bandcamp.

• James Adrian Brown – production, mixing
• James Welsh – production, mixing
• James Trevascus – mastering

{{Reflist}}

• [https://benefitstheband.bandcamp.com/album/constant-noise?label=1562912171&tab=music Constant Noise] on Bandcamp

Category:Invada Records albums

Category:2025 albums

Category:Albums by British artists