Following the breakout success of their aptly named sophomore album Supernova (2022), Nova Twins — Amy Love and Georgia South — found themselves facing a new kind of pressure. “We had to figure out a way to navigate through the attention and the pressure,” Love admits. The solution? To return to their unapologetic mantra of “simply not giv(ing) a fuck.”
While the attitude remains intact, Parasites & Butterflies shifts focus. Where Supernova demanded they be “superhuman,” the new record embraces duality — chaos and beauty, power and vulnerability — and finds strength in honesty.
The 12-track set opens with “Glory”, a blast of spacey electronics and sci-fi textures that swell into an electro-rock anthem recalling Muse’s Origin of Symmetry era. It quickly segues into “Piranha,” a rap-driven, stomping hybrid that fuses the stomp of “We Will Rock You” with Joan Jett grit. Its message, though, is crystal clear: “A rebel and a soldier / We’re not taking orders.”
Elsewhere, Nova Twins continue to revel in unexpected combinations. “Soprano” flexes Love’s impressive vocal range, sliding between sharp rap cadences and soaring pop hooks — think Missy Elliott meets Kelis, with a glimmer of Mariah Carey’s Fantasy. The Beyoncé influence also runs strong; both “Monsters” and especially “Hurricane” nod to the rallying power of “Run the World (Girls).”
The emotional core arrives with “Hummingbird,” their first ever use of a sample. By weaving in Iranian artist Mahsa Vahdat’s haunting “Lullaby,” the track becomes a deeply personal tribute to Love’s heritage, standing out as one of the album’s most moving moments.
Of course, Nova Twins haven’t left behind their nu-metal DNA. “Drip” channels the urgent pulse of Linkin Park’s “Faint,” while “N.O.V.A.” captures the bombastic swagger of Limp Bizkit at their peak — a sure-fire live anthem that leaves you buzzing, “high like sucking on balloons.” The closer, “Black Roses,” wraps things up with a Papa Roach-styled surge that reframes hard rock machismo into a celebration of feminine and diverse power.
If Supernova was raw fire, Parasites & Butterflies is more sculpted — polishing edges, leaning further into electronic textures and vocal distortion, and often separating their rock and R&B/hip-hop instincts rather than fusing them outright. The result is less jagged but still bold, and when the duo hit their stride, the anthems are undeniable. It may not have the sheer visceral punch of its predecessor, but it proves Nova Twins remain one of the most inventive and fearless forces in modern rock.
Be the first to comment