Massive Attack and Tom Waits Release Protest Single

Massive Attack, the Bristol-based trip-hop pioneers, and veteran singer-songwriter Tom Waits released their collaborative single "Boots On The Ground" on Thursday, marking the first new music from both artists in over a decade. The track, a stark protest song addressing political unrest and state authoritarianism, features gravelly vocals from the 76-year-old Waits and additional contributions from his son, drummer Casey Waits.

The release arrives amid heightened global tensions, including recent protests against police militarization and immigration enforcement in the United States. Massive Attack described the timing in a statement: "It's a career honour to collaborate with an artist of the magnitude, originality and integrity of Tom, but this track is arriving in an atmosphere of chaos. Across the western hemisphere, state authoritarianism and the militarisation of police forces are fusing again with neofascist politics. Seen within the American emergency, at home and overseas, this track contains pulses of callous impulse and abandoned mind."

Accompanying the single is a short film created by Massive Attack in partnership with American photographic artist thefinaleye. The...