Nova Twins: Parasites & Butterflies review – fearless rock duo balance anthems and introspection

(Marshall)
Trailblazers Amy Love and Georgia South push the boundaries of their trademark hybrid rock sound while confronting mental health and naysayers

Nova Twins’ 2022 album Supernova received Brit nominations and the first ever Mercury prize shortlisting for a Black rock band, and earned singer/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South fans in Rage Against the Machine and Elton John. Their third album packs more of the trademark hybrid of rock, metal, punk and hip-hop that elbowed them to the front of a still male-dominated genre, but pushes at their boundaries and tiptoes towards pop.

Working with Foo Fighters/Charli xcx producer Rich Costey and a supporting cast including former Nine Inch Nails drummer Ilan Rubin and (via their first use of sampling) Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat, the sound is bigger and more blatantly anthemic. Soprano playfully flirts with sugary harmonies and semi-operatic pop. Hummingbird – a kaleidoscopic collage of multi-layered vocals, unusual guitar processing and inventive percussion – sums up their spirit of adventure: “Spread your wings.”