Recorded in London in 2016, the record is an infectious mix of ska punk and social commentary. “The initial idea was just to sit down and do something incredibly honest”, reveals Itch. “I wanted to write about the journey that I’ve been on over the past 12 months. This record is about cleaning up and seeing what I can do to improve myself and make myself happier.” The King Blues have always been a band that writes from the heart, but with The Gospel Truth Itch left no intimate detail uncovered. It was a process he found incredibly cathartic. “We had a lot of fun making this record”, declares Itch. “Even though we were dealing with some emotional topics and doing a lot of soul searching and going deep, it was a really enjoyable, therapeutic and creative experience.”
The Gospel Truth is also unique in that fans were invited to be a part of the process: people from all over the country shared their individual stories with Itch via audio diaries, which pop up at various stages throughout the album, underscoring his own personal struggles with depression. As the singer explains: “The more personal and honest they got with me, it seemed like we were all going through the same struggles and our stories were starting to relate to each other. And it was a strange thing because it was a shared experience of isolation. So many people felt this same sense of anxiety and disconnection.” The songs on The Gospel Truth switch from sardonic (America Don’t Want Me / Not Another Love Song) and satirical (The Bullingdon Boys / New Gods) to downright dark (The Truth Comes Out), but the theme remains constant throughout: truth.
The Gospel Truth is also unique in that fans were invited to be a part of the process: people from all over the country shared their individual stories with Itch via audio diaries, which pop up at various stages throughout the album, underscoring his own personal struggles with depression. As the singer explains: “The more personal and honest they got with me, it seemed like we were all going through the same struggles and our stories were starting to relate to each other. And it was a strange thing because it was a shared experience of isolation. So many people felt this same sense of anxiety and disconnection.” The songs on The Gospel Truth switch from sardonic (America Don’t Want Me / Not Another Love Song) and satirical (The Bullingdon Boys / New Gods) to downright dark (The Truth Comes Out), but the theme remains constant throughout: truth.