Album Review: Saint Agnes – Bloodsuckers (Spinefarm Records)

Hailing from the UK, ferocious four-piece Saint Agnes return with new album ‘Bloodsuckers’, set for release on July 21st. 2023, via Spinefarm Records. As much gang as band, Saint Agnes seek to empower those who’ve been battered and bruised yet refuse to lie down.

Freaking A! Saint Agnes are back and holy heck, do they have a banger to share. Kicking off with the epitome of intensity, the title track is a frenzy of high-tempo heaviness blended with their inimitable passion. The fire in their bellies, in particular vocalist Kitty, is just delightful to the ears.

The bar has been set by that opener and immediately reached again with the extremely special Animal. A fierce Saint Agnes track that can rightfully be called one of the band’s most ‘in your face’ offerings as they reach heavy depths that will make the body tremble.

Continuing to move and groove, I Mean Nothing to You combines powerful melody and soaring vocals with abrasive instrumental jabs. Before Outsider brings a chorus that everyone will love, and everyone will want to shout along too. A rockier beast with truly defiant lyrics. It continues the trend of never knowing what you’ll get from this band, except the guarantee that it will be bloody memorable.

Take a deep breath, Saint Agnes are on top form here and that continues into the heartfelt drama of This Is Not the End. Listen to this track and be captivated by the melodies and vocals.

Bringing the energy back up with Follow You and I Am. A pair of defiantly heavy tracks that has Saint Agnes demanding every bit of your attention through sheer passion, while being experimental in places and setting the senses aflame with powerful creativity. Followed then by the building tension of the first half and explosive second of At War With Myself. Before Middle Finger makes one hell of a memorable point. Shut the f**k up and start giving Saint Agnes the credit they are more than due.

It seems like an obvious collaboration, the uber-talented Mimi Barks with Saint Agnes, but even then few could expect the team-up to yield such thrilling results. Music this abrasive shouldn’t be so anthemic. It’s a stupidly lovable listen even if it makes you gurn.

Finally, it’s Forever and Ever to wrap up this album of the year contender and as finale’s go, it’s a strong closing effort from this enigmatic band. Exciting, interesting, infectious, and brilliantly intense. If Saint Agnes felt any pressure to live up to expectations on this record, it doesn’t show in the slightest.

Saint Agnes – Bloodsuckers Track Listing:

1. Bloodsuckers
2. Animal
3. I Mean Nothing To You
4. Outsider
5. This Is Not The End
6. Follow You
7. I Am
8. At War With Myself
9. Middle Finger
10. Body Bag (feat. Mimi Barks)
11. Forever and Ever

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