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Today, London-based alternative metallers HAWXX have announced the release of their debut full-length album, Earth, Spit, Blood and Bones. In conjunction with the news, the feminist punk-infused quartet encourage rejection of oppressive beauty standards with the new single and video for ‘Embrace the Ugly’, featuring a cameo from Copper Topp from Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK Season 4.
Stream ‘Embrace the Ugly’ here.
On the new single, the band comment:
“‘Embrace The Ugly’ is a call to come alive in beautiful disobedience of everything that’s expected of you. In the music video everyone performs their own ‘ugly dance’, their own beautiful, unhinged, improvised ritual to shed expectation and transform into something brave, queer and powerful. We dedicate this song to our amazing friends and fans (our kettle of metal).”
The video, directed by Adam Razvi, is a lo-fi ugly recording from the band’s punk-metal gig featuring their beloved kettle heads, including icon and star of the show, Copper Topp from Ru Paul’s drag race UK season 4.
“We’re bodies and vessels, we’re brothels and temples, we’re mothers and sluts.”
‘Embrace the Ugly’ is the third single to be taken from the band’s debut album, following the likes of ‘Soulbreaking Machines‘ and ‘The Worst Thing‘.
HAWXX hail from Greece, Italy, Wales, and England, with a sound that is made up of four-part harmonies, drop tuned heavy riffs and progressive drums. Writing songs about oppressive beauty standards, mental health struggles, violence against women and queer people, self empowerment, this is more than just a band, it’s a necessary vehicle of catharsis, love and rage. As a feminist band it is HAWXX’s aim to be part of changing the landscape of the rock and metal world and for their gigs to be a collective experience of love and rage, holding women and queer people at the centre.
Summer 2023 saw the axe-wielding metallers perform at Download Festival to a packed out Dogtooth Stage, and the year before that they embarked on a tour across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands supporting Alter Bridge’s Mark Tremonti, with more slots at Download Festival, Radar Fest, Great Escape, Summer Breeze in Germany, and Burn it Down Festival respectively sprinkled throughout. As well as being endorsed by Jackson Guitars, Rotosound Strings and Victory Amplifiers, winning the PRS Women Make Music Award, playing a exclusive performance at the Heavy Music Awards and playing a packed out tent at Bloodstock Festival described by Metal Planet Music as an ‘I was there’ moment, Hannah and Anna were also listed in Metal Hammers list of “13 Metal Guitarists That Will Change the World.”
Band Members:
Anna Papadimitriou – vocals / guitars
Hannah Staphnill – guitars / backing vocals
Julia Cadau – bass / backing vocals
Jessica Dann – drums / backing vocals
Social Media Links:
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