Hailing from the U.K, and fueled with anarchic rage and spunk, Saint Agnes brings a dirty industrial sound into their newest release. Despite the fury, there’s an inner turmoil and grief fixated into these tracks, songs that leave plenty of room for self-reflection beyond the angst. After the grief comes rebirth, and Your God-Fearing Days Are About to Begin is all about what comes next. Inspired by the rising of right-wing platforms and the fear they spew, this record is a sharp combative statement, a defensive stance for those who dare to stand and thrive amidst an aggressive threatening state.
“Good Boy,” buzzes in as the first track. Brash, industrial, and backed by techno punk beats, musically “Good Boy,” is expressive in its influences. To top it off, melancholy keys entrance on the bridge beneath the beat. Lead vocalist Kitty’s breathy screams antagonize and sound off a sharp message towards bootlicking right-wing followers. Chanting “Get back in the line,” as the song reaches its end, there’s no getting lost in the theme of unraveling a system that doesn’t represent its people.
Electronic pulsing beats follow into “The Ghost.” Sickly sweet tones narrate what it means to be invisible, a story of not belonging. To be one with the phantoms. Introspective and aching with longing to be seen, the rhythmic electric mix dares one to dance alone. A static buzz pulses with the lines, “Can anyone hear me, can anyone feel me, can anyone reach me,” as if a connection is breaking.
“The Father, The Son and the Holy Beast,” dives deep into catholic imagery and religious prose, all wrapped in the song’s lyrics revealing a deeper meaning. Beneath the metaphors and religious tones, the song follows what it means to be truly devoted, and to break away from that devotion. Colorful lines such as “Hell is captivity bound by your kiss,” signifies an obsessive relationship. The vivid prose collides with a rowdy drum-heavy beat which works together to give the song its edge.
Solemn keys create dark ambience on “The Beast.” The fourth track gives the rave beat a break to focus on the heartbreak pouring from Kitty’s desperate vocals. Two and a half minutes in though the full band kicks in and thrusts the song into chaos. Grief and suffering are all felt within the verses and melancholy keys, combined with an unsettling heaviness fixated into the ambience.
The beat springs back up in the youthful vibrancy of “Song for Mia,” a tribute to Kitty’s childhood friend and the innocence of growing up and dreaming. While steeped in simple longing and devotion, “Song for Mia,” is a staple of the band’s punk electronic rave dynamic and doesn’t lose the momentum nor fall into a nostalgic ballad.
The spiteful bop, “Everything You Denied,” ignites with an electric rumble. Venom and angst are thrust between the buzzing rhythm, a diss track with the assaulting energy of bands like Mindless Self Indulgence and Nine Inch Nails. The banger is all about standing up to someone holding you back, an anthemic moment of release and spite.
The soaring momentum of “Gods of War” begins with dull muted chords and isolated vocals. One of the most powerful songs on the album, “Gods of War,” is a statement against corrupt officials in control. As the song progresses, the reverb builds into the rhythm, the gritty guitar riffs raging along but the sultry vocals remain in the spotlight, leaving a lingering impression long after the song abruptly ends.
“Get Them Out,” follows as a hopeful song written for another friend. This one charges in with a speed racer tempo, chocked full of static and raw energy. An explosive chorus demands to let go of the negative thoughts in your head, the shame and self-doubt.
“Where Do I Begin,” feels more like a soliloquy than the finale of an angsty punk album yet it stands just as powerful as the other bangers. Whimsical chimes give way to soft keys and a clearer sound without the constant static buzz. “Where Do I Begin,” is a riveting message about the transformations of life, a poignant expression of gratitude towards those who continue to stand by and support. The vulnerability seeping into the quiet lines of the song, the softness of the keys with the mystical chimes, it is a subtle conclusion for an album titled Your God-Fearing Days Are About to Begin. Explosive, organic punk rockers Saint Agnes hit it out of the park with Your God-Fearing Days Are About to Begin. As atmospheric as it is loud, and as touching as it is daring, there is plenty to unpack in this album. Dark theatrics and a strong moral compass, Saint Agnes wield their instruments like weapons of beauty and power, captains of their genre, ready to rage onstage or in a studio.
Review by I’m Music Magazine Music Journalist Alice Kearney
