Fresh from touring with the likes of Svalbard, Japanese metal band Hanabie, and Wargasm, Knife Bride impale us with their latest EP, Sorry About The Plague.
Defining their own signature style as “Nu-Gothika,” the band delivers five tracks of precision-engineered metal, blending piercing, slick riffs with explosive vocal roars. Sorry About The Plague is a euphonious punch in the face, if ever there was one.
The latest release, and a standout from the five-track EP, Crucify, is best pitched to stand up to the ‘Nu-Gothika’ genre. Lead singer, Mollie Clark says about Crucify, “it’s a conversation with myself – a ruthless interrogation of a past version of me. A public trial of someone who made mistakes that I’ve struggled to forgive”. With standout lyrics, “life gave me lemons, I made poison”. This is aimed to capture the idea that sometimes we don’t just mishandle what we’re given, we actively ruin it.
Forthright lyrics, pummelling guitars, driving bass, venturous drums, and unconventional synthesisers are qualities that assemble to create a package of work with heavy heart plunging sounds with obsessive appeal. Imagine a version of Kate Bush suitable for power lifting, that’s Knife Bride.
Already nominated for Heavy Music Awards ‘Best Breakthrough Artist’, more plaudits are destined to materialise off the back of this release. As I’m sure more top festival billing will be given, following their past appearances at both Download and 2000trees.