ALBUM REVIEW: Supernova – Nova Twins
NOVA TWINS looked set for stardom when their acclaimed debut album Who Are the Girls? was released back in February 2020. Unfortunately, only a few weeks later, the world shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. This could’ve spelled disaster; however, for the London duo it just meant waiting a little longer for their musical domination. Once the world opened up again, the pair of lead singer and guitarist Amy Love and bassist and backing vocalist Georgia South quickly took the world by storm. They’ve hit the covers of publications such as Kerrang! and Rock Sound; they’ve opened for ENTER SHIKARI; they have embarked on a sold-out UK tour. And, most importantly, they are one of the most exciting bands to emerge in the last few years.
With their glorious mish-mash of punk, R&B, pop, hip-hop and rap, NOVA TWINS show that genre is worthless. Now, they have returned with their second album, Supernova. Across 11 songs, the duo continue their genre-smashing success. Power (Intro) is a gritty guitar-driven introduction song that sets up the audience for the time of their lives. As the music swells, it transitions perfectly into Antagonist, a swaggering punk song which shows off the duo’s infectious energy. There is a natural growth here from their first album. They sound more confident in their sound, and the production is stellar. The fact that this record was co-produced by Jim Abbiss, who worked on their first album, helps maintain a through-line in their sound.
Not that NOVA TWINS can be pinned down by one genre though. This is shown on Cleopatra, a track which perfectly mixes punk and rap as if the two genres were always meant to be together. K.M.B. (short for Kill My Boyfriend) is a playful song about getting rid of a bad boyfriend. Love showcases her rapping skills, showing that she doesn’t just sing. The bassline on Fire & Ice is infectious, showcasing South‘s talent. The nu-metal chorus adds another genre into the long list of genres that NOVA TWINS love to play mix and match with.
Some people might be worried that all these genres would create a mess of an album. On any other album, that might very well be the case. But not on Supernova. This album easily slides from nu-metal, rap, hip-hop and rock (sometimes all within the same song) with ease. There is something for everyone here, and that is one of the best things about it.
Puzzles is a sex-positive rock song that is a riot of drums, bass, and cyberpunk. The song was inspired by more sensual R&B songs; however, it is given a rock twist. When talking about the song, South says: “It’s fine for men to vocalise liking sex, so why doesn’t the same apply for girls like us? We’re women and we have sex!” And when it sounds as good as Puzzles, who is to say that it won’t inspire more sexy rock songs in the future, especially from women?
As the record progresses, it continues to move easily through nu-metal (A Dark Place For Somewhere Beautiful), rock (Toolbox), and electronic punk (Choose Your Fighter). Even then it would be extremely unfair to limit those songs to one genre, because they combine all different genres. For example, the latter is a fantastic blend of punk and rap. However, the most important thing about this album is that it never loses sight of who NOVA TWINS are at heart: Love, South, guitars, bass, drums and a lot of infectious energy. The band do not slow down for a minute, apart from the very last song, Sleep Paralysis. However, after all the energy, it only feels natural that the last song is a bit slower. Even then, it is more of a mid-tempo song, and doesn’t affect the overall pacing of the album.
NOVA TWINS have outdone themselves with Supernova. They have not only improved upon their already brilliant debut, but also added more genres that are mixed seamlessly within the NOVA sound. Love and South are clearly having the time of their lives as the album shows. If you’re wondering where to start with NOVA TWINS, this album is where you need to be. This is a triumph for a band who are only going to get bigger.
Rating: 10/10
Supernova is set for release on June 17th via Marshall Records.
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