Carniwhore’s latest single, ‘(This is Not) A Love Song’, dropped as the ultimate antithetical love song, offering a four-minute reprieve for anyone who met the saccharine spectacle of consumerism, which is Valentine’s Day, with scorn. The track doesn’t wallow in isolation; it charges at full force, tearing through the hollow sentiments of the season with the brute force of horror punk savagery.
Sonically, Carniwhore went rogue in the renegade of a track that channels the bruising visceralism of Marilyn Manson, sharpened by the dark energy of Murderdolls and Wednesday 13. IDLES-esque punk vocals infiltrate the scathed mix as the industrial-tinged chaos hurtles towards catharsis for those who don’t fit the mould but understand the hive mind all too well. The reprise of “this is not a love song” nods to Public Image Limited, but Carniwhore inject infinitely more bite.
Hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, Carniwhore have cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with, delivering a sonic onslaught that refuses to be ignored. More than just a venomous rebuttal to romance, the track channels its fury into something meaningful, with all streaming proceeds going to Dougie Mac—a cause close to the band’s heart.
‘(This is Not) A Love Song’ is now available to stream on all major platforms. For the full experience, watch the official music video which dropped on Valentine’s Day.
Review by Amelia Vandergast