UK electronic artist Max Rael (History Of Guns) shares the video for “Almost,” taken from his debut solo album “The Enemy Is Us”, released via The Liquid Len Recording Company on June 20, 2025. The “Almost (Single Mix 2)” digital release arrived today, September 8, 2025.

“Almost” is a spoken-word dark electronic track about near-misses and the anger that can follow. “I wrote ‘Almost’ about the anger that comes from failure, especially when you’ve put everything on the line,” Max Rael says. “This song, along with the music video, is about finding a way to release that frustration in a safe way, a way that doesn’t turn into self-punishment.” He adds that the video’s motif – fruit being squashed – was inspired by Stu Francis’ 1980s catchphrase “Ooh! I could crush a grape.”

“The Enemy Is Us” was written and produced by Max Rael, mixed with Caden Clarkson, and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Pixies. Nine Inch Nails). Formats include digital download/streaming and a collectable digipack CD (edition of 100).

About Max Rael

Based in Hertfordshire (UK), Max Rael is known as a core member of History Of Guns, a project formed in February 1996 by Stagger Lee, Max Rael and Del Alien. The group’s early studio period led to releases on the band’s own Liquid Len Records, later signing to Line Out Records in 2006.

Key albums include “Flashes of Light” (2004), “Apophenia” (2005), “ACEDIA” (2008) and “Whatever You Do, Don’t Turn Up at Twelve” (2011), followed by a hiatus and a 2022 return. The current lineup lists Del Alien, Max Rael, Caden Clarkson, Jamu (James) Knight, Gary Hughes, Ámon Ássentir and Chris White.

Rael also features with the London project Decommissioned Forests. Musician, writer, actor, engineer and producer, Max Rael has also collaborated with Fish (Marillion), Last July, Kommand + Kontrol, Freudstein and Bienheldenschafgegenstand.

Rael’s solo work focuses on spoken-word set against minimal synths and heavy, programmed drums. He issued the solo-single “Self-Soothe Mechanism” (2021), followed by “Brighter Future” (Apr 22, 2025) and “Slightly Less Than Human” (May 2025), leading to his solo debut album, “The Enemy Is Us,” released on June 20, 2025 via The Liquid Len Recording Company.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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