Hailing from Oakland, CA, the trio known as Suicide Queen were set to make their first strike on the industrial world last year, as they were set to tour with Luna13 before, well, you know. Not content to sit and let time pass them by, the three members - vocalist/guitarist/programmer Kay Dolores, guitarist Todd Buller, and bassist Ira Mortem - set out to record their first album, which will be Nymphomaniac, set to be released on COP International sometime this year.
The first taste of this record is “Swan,” a gothic/industrial treat of a track. A simple 4/4 beat, heavy guitar riffs, a pretty piano line plinking its way throughout, and a headbanging pre-verse section just to make sure you didn’t fall asleep to that piano line. Dolores’ vocals are low, almost talk-sung or snarled. It has a primal, raw energy to it, but lulls the listener in with an air of sweetness and sophistication.
Says Kay Dolores on the track:
“Swan was one of the first songs I wrote when Suicide Queen started. I don’t entirely remember if the lyric came from the band name or vice versa, maybe it just happened to fit there in the song. That’s appropriate because Swan is a lot like us. It’s ferocious and punishing, isn’t it? But it could also be mistaken for beautiful. And it ends in death.”
Up front, I have to say that the melody for this song has been in my head since the first time I sat down to listen to it. It’s infectious, catchy, and stompy all at once. Add in the production of John Fryer, whose credits include Black Needle Noise, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode, and I’m sold. This is an act to get excited about.
The single is available on Bandcamp, with a B-side remix of their previous track “Scarecrow” done by John Fryer. Stream it below:
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