"REPENT!"

Dressing in all black and seeking to create the impression that you’re a volatile, bloodthirsty psychotic is very assuredly nothing new, in rock’n’roll circles. But, for my money, a good groove and a powerful delivery excuses a thousand weary accusations of brazen derivation. British indie band Saint Agnes might wear their influences on their sleeves (I mean, literally – look closely, and you might notice a White Zombie patch on the shoulder of guitarist Jon James Tufnell – nephew of Nigel?), but so long as they’re cranking out propulsive singles like “Repent,” I’m fine with it.

Boasting an insistent riff that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Rage Against the Machine record, this single is a bracing rebuke of the notion that guitar-based rock is dead. Vocalist/frontvixen Kitty Arabella Austen conducts herself accordingly, boasting a suitably assertive voice and shredding her larynx with a couple of wails that could shatter stained-glass. But there’s something about that stomping, insistent mantra of the title, barked out with Austen’s British lilt that really nails it for me.

The band has evidently been around for a couple of years, morphing from a bluesier iteration into this sort of more post-goth aggro trajectory. And, yeah, you might be able to credibly cite a million slovenly bands who have already mined this particular aesthetic, but as far as I’m concerned, I’d much rather hear this sort of stuff than Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and fuckin’ Lana Del Rey.

The kids aren't alright after all....bless'em.

Comments

[Lefty]

This recommendation is perhaps that first one that I disagree with. So cliche. Better than what's on the commercial radio? Perhaps. Do people still listen to the radio? There is so much great music out there, surprised you singled out this band.

[Alex in NYC]

I suppose I should put this in the context of my personal worldview. I happen to work at a performing rights organization, and thus hear a huge amount of what I'd consider irretrievably rote, banal pop music. While this assuredly does not even begin to push any envelopes, it -- at the very least -- is a breath of fresh air outside of the suffocating stagnancy of yawnsome R&B/ersatz-hip-hop/auto-tuned drivel that is very much the order of the day. Is it original? Not at all. Is it rife with cliche? Almost proudly. But it's loud. It's aggressive. It's got a palpable groove. I'd rather the kids dig this stuff than the bullshit that currently rules Spotify and the like.

[DrBOP]

I was gonna say something about Lefty being a bit cranky because he didn't win the lottery, but be that as it may

She can cliche over me any time she likes ;>)