Biopsy O Boutique has made a poignant step with their evocative recent album, ‘Nettle Kiss,’ that serves as a powerful reflection of the band’s artistic evolution, intertwining both personal struggles and the creative process that birthed it.
Biopsy O Boutique debuted ‘Nettle Kiss’ live during a private concert in mid-September, as anticipation of their official album release in their hometown of Vicenza on October 26, 2024. With the inexorable rise of this mysterious Italian band, ‘Nettle Kiss’ takes us on an esoteric journey, keeping us hanging on a thin thread of time that seems to stop altogether with its haunting sound. The band skillfully transmutes their personal pain and collective experiences into a rich auditory journey as an invitation for listeners to explore their own emotional landscapes. As they continue to forge their path in contemporary rock, Biopsy O Boutique is certainly a band to watch, embodying resilience, and the raw power of music.
The band recorded ‘Nettle Kiss’ at Colosso Room Studio in late 2022 during a period marked by adversity. Following the sessions, both lead vocalist Daniele Perrino and guitarist Nicolò Apolloni faced severe health challenges that delayed the release of their highly-anticipated album. These hardships infused ‘Nettle Kiss’ with a raw intensity and emotional depth that resonates profoundly. It creates a narrative that feels both intimate and universal—a compelling exploration of the dualities of pain and nostalgia.
Musically, the single ‘Nettle Kiss’ embodies a potent fusion of stoner rock, punk rock, blues, and grunge, showcasing the band’s versatility and distinct sound. From the onset, the track establishes a gothic tone with punchy, distortion-soaked guitar riffs that ebb and flow, infused with the gritty nostalgic textures. The sharp transitions between passages reveal a deftly constructed song, where the dynamics rise and fall, mirroring the internal struggles depicted in the lyrics.
The rhythm section, featuring a rumbling bassline by Michele Lavarda, serves as a steady foundation that drives the track forward, its depth overwhelming the listener with a primal energy. This solid underpinning complements the swirling guitars, as Apolloni’s surreal, rhythmic fractures create a soundscape rich in tension and atmosphere. The interplay between Lavarda’s resonant bass and Apolloni’s angular, unpredictable guitar lines captures the very essence of blues’ erratic heart, pulling the listener into an esoteric journey that feels both timeless and immediate.
Under an esoteric sense of melancholia and yearning, Perrino’s voice oscillates between whispered confessions and later eruptions into powerful, guttural howls, capturing the tumultuous emotional landscape the lyrics traverse. Lines invoking memories and painful experiences are handled with vulnerability and fierce resilience, urging listeners to relate to the shared human experience of grappling with one’s past. Lyrically, ‘Nettle Kiss’ captures an intense introspection, encapsulating the idea of revisiting painful memories with a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. The band articulates their choice for the title track:
“It’s about the bad things in life that, strangely enough, you sometimes wish you could have back, despite the pain they caused.”
This duality permeates the entire piece, lending it an emotional weight that lingers long after the final notes fade away.
Accompanying this emotionally charged single is a visually arresting music video filmed amid the hauntingly serene setting of a forest near the band’s hometown. Collaborating with performer Chiara Oliva and visionary filmmaker Omar Cj Neal, the music video enhances the song’s themes, capturing the raw, mysterious connection between the artist and nature. The visuals evoke a dreamlike quality, intertwining scenes of Chiara’s expressive performance with the shifting, shadowy landscapes of the woods, all carefully designed to reflect the liberating anger and enigmatic qualities present in the song.
“We wanted the video to evoke the same liberating anger and sense of mystery that the song delivers,”
Through this collaboration, emotional connections are solidified, further bridging the music with the visual narrative.
‘Nettle Kiss’ arises from the tumultuous backdrop of the global pandemic—a time of uncertain feelings for many of us. The album channels these collective experiences, bringing forth an energetic catharsis while also offering a glimmer of hope and resolution.‘Nettle Kiss’ single serves as its beating heart, setting the tone for an emotional journey that includes seven tracks, culminating in the final piece, ‘So Far.’ This concluding track provides a reflective and softer acoustic sound, contrasting sharply with the intensity that precedes it, ultimately delivering a gentler, melancholic resolution to the experience.
‘Nettle Kiss’ not only marks a significant milestone in the artistic trajectory of Biopsy O Boutique but also stands as a testament to capture the essence of a tumultuous period in their lives and translates it into a compelling auditory experience that resonates with listeners on multiple levels. Biopsy O Boutique‘s ability to infuse personal and collective experiences into their music—accompanied by the evocative visuals of their music video—positions them as a unique band within the contemporary rock landscape. With ‘Nettle Kiss’ , they are poised to capture the hearts of many, reminding us all of music’s profound power to heal, reflect, and connect. As audiences eagerly await their upcoming release shows, one thing is certain: Biopsy O Boutique is a band that is not only rising inexorably but also destined to leave a lasting mark.
Listen ‘Nettle Kiss’ HERE | Watch the video HERE
Follow Biopsy O Boutique HERE
33 MAGAZINE 