REVIEW: KNIFE BRIDE - sorry about the plague
- Julia Brunton
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
In sophomore EP sorry about the plague is where Brighton quartet KNIFE BRIDE dial up the theatre to craft a narrative that starts with moreish character building and finishes with raw vulnerability. Across its five tracks, there are polished fusions of angsty metalcore guitars and screechy synths that carry the cheek of Mollie Clack’s vocals well, as well as the religious imagery plastered all over the EP’s titles and lyrics which lend to themes of sinning, confession and forgiveness.
Lead single alone at the altar opens the EP, with the synths bouncing along the instrumental in the first verse before moving easily into the first of many well-executed tempo changes in the bridge. As the name suggests, KNIFE BRIDE open with a defiant response to a breakup, excluding confidence as the synths accent the final bar of eight bar phrases throughout, then blending the styles together by repeating “my” remix-style in the breakdown to set the rock rave mood.
Latest single crucify quickly follows and ups the pace of sorry about the plague; a proper look into the all-consuming character followed within the EP with all the cheek that would entail. The soundscape is chaotic with the synth running scales and static piled onto Sean Windle’s guitar in the first half while Clack’s character rejoices in watching a life go down in flames. In the second half, the religious imagery woven through the second such themed title stitches into synth harmonies that sound choral before breaking into whiny guitars that contrast the punchy bass and drums.
For the midpoint there’s lillies, slowing back down and discussing wasting years in the beginning to hint that the big personality will be stripped back. This doesn’t compromise the moreish soundscape that builds from the slower tempo, incorporating some rap singing in verse two to go along with the Drum and Bass beats then finishing with an angry breakdown/bridge. By the final movement the vocals become accusatory, creating the first nod to the hurt that lies at the foundation of sorry about the plague.
Porcelain is the penultimate and standout track of sorry about the plague from jump, with Sean Millsopp’s floor lead drumline traded between headphone speakers in the intros and instrumental breaks that adds welcome bounce to the final act of the EP, with said instrumentals coming back with the half time bridges and keeping heavy until the unapologetically metalcore final breakdown complete with an irresistible china lead. The lyrics are confrontational about ones flaws, shown best in “I was the poison/you thought I was the antidote”, emblemising the ‘confessions of a former messy girl’ narrative while the consequences of this play out in the ear.
To finish: poisoned by god, where the façade finally breaks and the vulnerability finally shows through. From jump "desperate to be loved/desperate to be something new” is like a sigh of despair once alone performing joy to a group, with the synths now mixed akin to a piano as the chorus declares “and with my heart in chains I play the fool”. Poisoned by God calls out to a former lover for one more chance in a beautifully emo finish to sorry about the plague, where the different versions of “If you ever asked me would I do it again/I would always do it my friend” hide the heavy instrumentals building in the background to form the perfect final crescendo.
sorry about the plague is a delightfully polished sophomore set of tracks for KNIFE BRIDE: the peeling the layers narrative is executed expertly while their desired sound is a distinct mix of hard rock, synth rock and metalcore. What was lacking was more of Windle’s scream, teased in a screech and blegh snuck into sorry about the plague that would be interesting to see let loose. Those seeing CALVA LOUISE in the week ahead have a treat in store if they make it early.
Score: 7/10
sorry about the plague will be self-released on 24th April 2026.
Words: Julia Brunton
Photos: KNIFE BRIDE
Comments