‘Midnight (to Track)’ arrives as a previously unreleased piece from the sessions for St. Divine’s debut album The Devil You Know, brought back into focus because the band felt its political themes remained too timely to leave behind. Originally omitted from the LP because of vinyl timing constraints, the track now stands on its own as a more measured extension of the band’s politically engaged material.
Written by Will Croxton with original St. Divine collaborators Al Maddy and Steve Lewis, the song follows some of the same thematic territory as ’30 Dolls’, but its musical approach is broader and less confrontational.
The arrangement brings together distorted guitars, retro organ, bass, drums and mbira, creating a groove-led sound that draws from punk, Americana and garage-rock without settling fully into any one style.
Over the years, St. Divine have built their sound around the meeting point between roots music and urban punk energy, and ‘Midnight (to Track)’ reflects that contrast clearly. The guitars retain a sense of weight, but the track leaves more room for texture and rhythm than a straightforward protest song might have done.
Released ahead of the US midterm elections in November, the band position the song as an encouragement to participate, with a simple message to get out there and vote.
What began as material left outside the album sequence for practical reasons has now become a standalone statement shaped by a different moment. ‘Midnight (to Track)’ doesn’t dramatically alter St. Divine’s sound, but it expands on the political and stylistic threads already present in The Devil You Know.