Watch Bastille’s Disturbing Cult-Themed ‘Blame’ Video

Bastille have unveiled their disturbing “Blame” video, a song from their recently released sophomore album, Wild World. In it, the world portrayed is controlled in a very dark manner.

The Elliott Sellers-directed clip opens with philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s words: “What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.” That duality of misguided faith and not taking responsibility is touched upon both in the clip and in the song’s lyrics. “Blame/ Blame/ Blame/ I got you, I got you,” Bastille’s Dan Smith sings. “Fall upon your knees/ Sing, ‘This is my body and soul.'” Meanwhile “whoa whoa” chants buoy the refrains and sharply-riffed track.

The visuals reveal a cult gathering where people encircle, chant around and worship a liquid-filled bowl containing lips that the followers ritualistically and creepily engage with throughout the clip.

“‘Blame’ was one of the first songs we wrote for Wild World and it has grown and developed a life of its own as we’ve played it live over the last year or so. Guitars have become a bigger part of our sound on this record and I think that’s pretty evident here,” Bastille’s singer-songwriter Dan Smith said in a statement.

“The song is about a dramatic stand off between two gangsters and nods to American History X and The Godfather,” he explained. “We were really excited to make the video with Elliott Sellers, whom we really admire. It’s been a fun excuse to expand upon the visual world of this album and we can’t wait for people to see it.”

The band will be embarking on its Wild, Wild World North American tour in March.