Marshall Records
This summer, we witnessed Nova Twins delivering the most exciting live set at Malakoff festival, and consequently were eager to hear the band’s new album “Parasites & Butterflies”. Nova Twins, made up of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South, have had support slots with Lenny Kravitz and Biffy Clyro, and Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello calls them “an incredible band”. Their music is a fascinating blend of alt-rock, rap‑rock, electro-punk and, in places, nu-metal. Recorded in Vermont with Rich Costey (Muse, Foo Fighters, Deftones), the album is full of rebellious attitude, yet is not afraid of showing vulnerability: “With ‘Parasites & Butterflies’, we wanted to showcase something deeply human: how vulnerability can be as empowering as it is revealing in its honesty.”
Early highlights are the powerful, slightly erratic opener “Glory”, and the gritty, punchy “Piranha”, with its snarling bass groove, fuzzy guitars and the raw energy of Amy Love’s vocal delivery. This is bound to become a live favourite. True to the band’s aim of showcasing something human, “Monsters” contains emotionally honest lyrics such as “I’m not afraid of monsters, but I’m afraid of myself”. “Soprano” is an R&B‑infused anthem of female empowerment, a call for unity amid an industry that often marginalizes women. The less heavy, groove-laden “Drip” blends pop and punk influences. Among several “shout-a-long” chorus tracks such as “N.O.V.A.”, cooling the intensity down, “Hummingbird” is a tender and delicate ballad, with a vocal delivery similar to FKA Twigs. The final two tracks, “Hurricane” and the finale, “Black Roses”, are surprisingly not up to the quality of the tracks that precede it. They are more conventional in structure and a disappointing end to an otherwise intriguing, dynamic record where the band frequently sound like trailblazers, crafting their own unique sound.
4/6 | Anne-Marie Forker
Release date: 29 August 2025
