9 o’clock Nasty + i am the unicorn head
i am the unicorn head teams up with 9 o’clock Nasty for “Existential Dread”.
Here’s a killer collaboration between two independent artists, 9 o’clock Nasty and i am the unicorn head. Unicorn Head is a duo based in the US & UK who met over Reddit during COVID. They’ve been collaborating online, releasing singles every 6 weeks to critical acclaim from the likes of the BBC and numerous publications . 9 o’clock is a trio based in Leicester who have released nearly 30 singles in two years. Both of these highly prolific bands have well established tones and styles. This collaboration should only elevate their names, it’s stunning. Here’s our review of “Existential Dread.”
Huge drums and a heavy bass riff start the track, with an oddly beautiful guitar riff that fits perfectly between an erie sax-like synth line. As vocals start, we get an analog pulse in the mix to drive up the fever a little bit. The lyrics are introspective, dark and captivating. Always love it with the lead vocal lines are doubled, and they do a great job of it here. With the chorus, the vocals go high and low with the melody on top, and an Orch like growl about 2 octaves below. The drum pattern is killer - it’s a bit of a disco vibe that really moves the section. The BG’s (provided by 9 o’clock) fit nicely between the main lines and add a different timbre. After the chorus, we’re back to that cool main riff before the second verse. This is The Eels meets Iggy Pop, Sub Pop Records meets Carpark Records. It’s not prog, but it’s definitely intellectual - like the best garage/punk/muse band in your town. The ending comes after a brief solo of layered guitars and a bit of a shout chorus of the main line. As it ends, we feel left alone in some sort of audio coffin - surrounded by existential dread.
With this being their first collaboration, we hope there will be more. It’s rare when bands can find a partner in musicality but it certainly feels like they’ve done it here. Make sure you scroll down to catch links to both bands. They both have a great visuals as well and know exactly how they want to promote themselves. We’ll definitely be paying attention to what they do next!