ALBUM REVIEW: Who Are The Girls? – Nova Twins

The next decade of music is an exciting one and will see the face of music undergo a battle of changes that’s begun to diverge music into an unexpected direction. At the face of this enthralling change is NOVA TWINS, a duo-fronted black female force to be reckoned with that are giving the punk sound a much-needed facelift with their debut album Who Are The Girls? an outrageous, off-the-wall collection of anthems that will make you reconsider what defines “angry punk” from a new perspective that’s been overlooked and white-washed for decades.

This offering will be produced under 333Wreckords managed by Jason Butler, who’s FEVER 333 project is the epitome of raising the middle finger to discrimination and inequality. It’s a perfect fit for a power-duo of black female’s entering a white male dominated industry with an album that will inevitably help break the mold of what can be achieved in punk music.

Who Are The Girls? is an explorative look into a unique and overlooked perspective in the alternative/punk industry. Even down to its album name, Who Are The Girls?, it almost seems rhetorical and ironic, because within the album the pair assert themselves as a dominating female authority that boldly face the patriarchy with a lipstick smeared grin as they claim back their femininity by being ‘the girls.’ But because of its unusual and experimental songs that stray away from generic punk sounds and its inclusive lyricisms that vocalise problems every woman knows of in tracks like Not My Day and Bullet, the album reaches out to women across the world that can join them in all being ‘the girls’.

It’s easy to troupe the pair as another angry riot girl band, and in fairness their sound could be compared to a Frankenstein creation of RIOT GRRL, late 90’s rap and THE PRODIGY. Their sound is sound is unusual, distorted and different as it breaks away from typical angry punk songs by borrowing from rap/grime and techno/edm in different compositions that catch listeners off-guard, like in Devil’s Face for example.

As the old saying goes, the devil’s in the details, but NOVA TWINS are a crafty pair that are admirable because the deeper you look, the more their songs unravel like a Pandora’s box of wonders. A prime example of this is the track Bullet, a feminist anthem that’s an open letter to cat-calling sexists and blares an ugly reality toward the mirror of society. The song’s finite details highlight NOVA TWINS creative wisdom that give the songs an extra punch, with the repetitive use of cat-calling whistles represents the repeated times women face cat-calling and how annoying it sounds. Also nearing the end of the song there’s a verse that draws similarities to typical rap verses, talking about ‘bitches and hoes, diamond and gold’ that peels back the gross underbelly of rap’s continuous sexism toward women that’s always objectified them.

The tracks feel effortless with their catchy beats and juxtaposing tones wrapping you inside and allowing you to get lost in the rhythm. But like a kiss with a fist the lyrics jolt you back into reality with a hard pill to swallow along the way. Not My Day is a personal favourite as it’s a simple, relatable track that vents the frustrations of feeling ignored and having a tough time. Each song has its own distinctive moment within this album that establishes its own story. For example, Taxi uses the fast past rhythm and climax that might remind one of the fast pace coming and going of a taxi in London (where the pair originate from) and honestly, this song feels straight out of a James Bond film.

The best way to describe the tracks on this album is that it’s like the soundtrack for a female heist movie. The songs are empowering, outgoing and unafraid to voice issues women face but don’t fall into the typical troupes put against women as their experimental sound creates a whole new experience for listeners. Who Are The Girls? is arguably the next sound of the decade, it’s refreshing and inspiring to a generation of youngsters who don’t often see themselves represented…until now.

Rating: 10/10

Who Are The Girls? is set for release on February 28th via 333 Wreckords.

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