Florida hard rock powerhouse Kings County explore the battle between light and darkness in their most intense video and single release yet ‘The Dead of Night‘, released on Friday, October 30th, 2026. Combining crushing guitars, soaring vocals, and the band’s trademark intensity, the track digs deep into the internal struggles that define the human experience, delivering what the band calls one of their strongest songs to date.
At its core, ‘The Dead of Night‘ examines the silent battles fought behind closed doors.
“‘The Dead of Night‘ is a song about the darkness we carry inside us, the battles we fight in silence, and the demons that come alive when the rest of the world falls asleep,” says vocalist Rob Dexter. “When you peel back the layers of hard-hitting guitars and powerful rock energy, the song explores the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, and the person you show the world versus the person you become when nobody is watching.”
The song’s evolution was anything but straightforward. During the writing process, the band made the unusual decision to completely abandon their original musical direction and start over, despite having strong lyrics already in place.
“‘The Dead of Night‘ was our first song to really take on a split personality,” Rob explains. “We got halfway through writing it and realized the music wasn’t matching our vision. The lyrics were there, but the melody and overall direction needed a complete makeover. Once we found the right approach, recording with producer Chuck Alkazian at Pearl Sound Studios, it came together quickly. When we heard the finished version, we were blown away. It’s easily one of our best songs to date and a true Kings County rock anthem.”
That intensity carries through to the song’s vocal performance, where various ingredients came together, bringing the song to life.
“When I record vocals, there are a few things I need to achieve: pitch, timing, and a boatload of attitude, with the biggest emphasis on attitude,” says Rob. “With ‘The Dead of Night‘, I wanted every word to jump right out of the speakers and hit you in the face. I channeled my inner Rob Zombie and pushed myself to make every line feel larger than life.”
Despite its aggressive sound and dark imagery, Kings County hopes listeners walk away with a message of perseverance and self-discovery.
“Beneath the power and intensity, this song is about confronting your inner demons, surviving your darkest moments, and discovering what you’re made of when there’s nowhere left to run,” Rob says. “The darkness isn’t necessarily the enemy. Sometimes, it reveals who you really are.”
Accompanying the single is the band’s latest music video, directed by longtime collaborator Jon Vulpine. The video marks the seventh partnership between the director and Kings County, but unlike previous large-scale productions, the band intentionally stripped things back.
“Most of our videos have involved large crews, elaborate storylines, and a lot of moving pieces,” says Rob. “For ‘The Dead of Night‘, we wanted the focus to be entirely on the band. No actors, no secondary storyline, just an in-your-face live performance in a visually powerful location.”
Vulpine‘s team found exactly that in an abandoned citrus mill in De Leon Springs, Florida. The weathered buildings and industrial decay created the perfect setting for the song’s themes.
“The location was incredible,” Rob recalls. “It had broken-down buildings, signs of fire damage, and a really unique atmosphere. It looked like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie.”
The shoot also featured one of the band’s most ambitious visual concepts yet: a fully practical indoor rain sequence.
“We’ve wanted to incorporate rain into a video ever since we filmed our cover of Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Wish‘,” Rob explains. “This time, we finally made it happen. We had a water truck and a fire hose powering a rain tree inside the building. Let me tell you, there was absolutely no AI involved in that scene. We got completely drenched, but the footage looks amazing.”
The video also serves as a milestone for Rob Dexter’s son and bassist Robbie Dexter, who participated in his first major music video production and first collaboration with Vulpine.
“This was Robbie‘s first big budget video shoot, and I couldn’t have been more impressed,” says Rob. “He carried himself like a seasoned professional from the moment we started filming. He’s a great bass player, he’s got a natural rock-star presence, and I think he’s got a very bright future ahead of him.”
As Kings County looks forward to the release of ‘The Dead of Night‘, the band remains focused on building momentum into the future.
“Even while we’re promoting this song, we’ll be right back to writing new material and playing live,” Rob explains. “You’re always one song away from your next hit. We’re excited for what’s left of 2026 and even more excited about what 2027 has in store.”
Line-up:
Rob Dexter (Vocals, Bass)
Steve Bell (Guitars, Vocals)
Joe Lopez (Drums)
Bill Kania (Guitars, Vocals)
Robbie Dexter ( Bass)
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