Singer-guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South formed Nova Twins in 2014, after a musical bond dating back to childhood. They quickly made a name for themselves in alternative rock thanks to their surprising yet effective fusions of punk, metal, grime, and electronica. Their variety is exemplified by their whirlwind of a performance history, with the South London-based duo having toured with seemingly everyone from Little Simz to Bring Me The Horizon. With a stack of Kerrang! and Heavy Music Awards under their belt, as well as two BRIT nominations, Nova Twins have made waves in the first half of the 2020s – but ‘Parasites & Butterflies’ is perhaps their boldest record to date.
With the exception of rap-based tracks ‘Soprano’ and ‘Drip,’ the album sees Nova Twins leaning more heavily into nu-metal. However, a creative concoction of genres still prevails; aspects of EDM are plentiful as ever. ‘Sandman’ introduces a heavy, grinding dubstep element into the mix, and even Indian-inspired sitar tones can be heard in the lighter, atmosphere-focused track ‘Hummingbird.’
Lyrically, the band are at the top of their game. Maintaining the brashness of previous hits like ‘Cleopatra,’ while weaving it into a clever, cryptic narratives, is no easy feat – but like all of their experiments, Love and South prove it to be a tool that they are more than capable of implementing. On ‘Parasites & Butterflies’, their lyrical activism is as full-blooded as their sound. ‘Piranha’ is a vehicle for a multitude of political statements, intricately crafted into subtle wordplay. While it was released as a single in May, the song takes on new heights when situated in the context of the album, and its themes feel more relevant than ever. Within less than three minutes, the duo explore various aspects of the UK’s declining political state, challenging the government’s attitude towards refugees with the lines “There’s something in the water / Open up the border,” and taking a jab at tightening attacks against protests with “A rebel and a soldier / We’re not taking orders.”
Love’s vocals are evocative of Skunk Anansie’s Skin, whose support Nova Twins have received throughout their career in the form of guidance and tour support spots. On ‘Parallel Universe,’ her impressive vocal range takes centre stage. Inflected by fuzzy microphone feedback and at times lowering to a whisper, Love’s voice was made for alternative rock.
Buy Parasites & Butterflies on vinyl
