Nova Twins have released ferocious comeback single ‘Monsters’, their first new track in more than two years. Check it out below alongside our interview with the band on their long-awaited third album, getting vulnerable, and thoughts on Sleep Token headlining Download Festival 2025.
Released today (January 20) after the duo teased the track on social media, ‘Monsters’ is the first taste of Nova Twin’s upcoming third album, which is due later this year. “It just felt like the right song to come back with,” bassist Georgia South told NME. “It has everything we love about Nova Twins but it’s also got this new era energy to it as well.”
“There’s definitely a dance-y element to the tune and it needed to feel like a mixture of chaos and calm,” she continued. “We wanted it to sound like the feeling of being trapped in your own head until you get to the release of the chorus, where you can finally unleash the beast.”
‘Monsters’ goes on a similar journey with the lyrics as well, with Nova Twins getting more vulnerable than ever before. “The song is about self-reflection and mental health,” explained vocalist Amy Love. “Sometimes you can feel imprisoned by your own head. We’re not always those fearless ‘Supernova‘ girls, but that’s OK. There’s definitely strength in being honest about that.”
The new track shows off a different side to Nova Twins, whose back catalogue is full of swaggering, defiant anthems. “Hopefully people will find the song comforting and it will offer them a release,” Love said. “We’ve all got monsters and it’s important for people to be able to talk about that, because that’s the only way you’re going to feel less isolated.”
‘Monsters’ does feel different to what’s come before, as South explained. “It had to feel majorly chaotic, but also beautiful at the same time. I don’t want to give too much away about the album, but that’s a big theme. We weren’t writing it with a concept in mind but as the songs kept coming, there was all this chaos and beauty.”
Last time the band spoke to NME towards the end of last year, they said they were still working on album three – but it’s now completely finished. “There are so many different flavours, so expect a journey,” South teased. “There’s a lot of light and shade. It’s also a very honest album.”
Love agreed: “We weren’t chasing specific sounds, we just did whatever felt most exciting. We weren’t scared about where that went either. There are songs like ‘Monsters’ but there’s also a lot of fun as well.”
It’s taken the band nearly three years to release new music because they toured acclaimed and Mercury Prize-nominated ‘Supernova’ so heavily. “We can never say no to a gig,” said Love with a grin. They even paused writing new material to tour UK arenas with Muse at the end of 2023 and they took some time out from recording with Rich Costey in Vermont last summer to support Foo Fighters. “There’s definitely some of that [arena rock] sound in this album,” said South.
Costey has worked on a number of classic crossover rock records, including Muse’s ‘Absolution’ and ‘Black Holes & Revelations’, Sam Fender’s ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ and My Chemical Romance’s ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge’. “He’s so lovely. He was so supportive of our vision and encouraged us to just be us,” she continued. “He’s worked on some of the best albums of all time, so we felt very lucky.”
Both 2020’s debut album ‘Who Are The Girls?’ and 2022’s ‘Supernova’ saw Nova Twins feeling like they had to “kick down doors” and prove themselves. But then that second album took them to a lot of places metal bands aren’t typically welcomed. They played Glastonbury’s Other Stage the weekend after smashing their Main Stage slot at Download 2023, they were nominated for Best Group at the BRIT Awards alongside The 1975, Arctic Monkeys and eventual winners Wet Leg the same year, while ‘Supernova’ was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize.
“Growing up, we always tried to picture ourselves in those spaces. There wasn’t really a band that looked like us that was doing this type of music anyway, so why not dream a bit further,” said South.
Love went on: “When we started out, the fact we were two Black women playing rock music held us back. You’d had Skin from Skunk Anansie and Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spex, but that was about it. It wasn’t really that accepted so we had to develop armour and be persistent. But we were also free to take inspiration from everything we love including rock, metal, hip-hop, pop and R&B. That’s allowed us to fit in, in all those different spaces.
“But with this album, we don’t feel the need to put so much pressure on being accepted by other people. This is who we are, this is what we do. If you love it, great. If you don’t, that’s fine too. We’ve become more confident within ourselves and as a band, we’re just more sure of our decisions.”
She continued: “The music industry can be a cynical place at times and it’s especially hard for rock bands if they want to do something a bit different. But with this album, we really wanted to ignite the kind of wonder we both had when we first started this band, when anything felt possible. Our goal for this year is just to have as much fun as possible.”
Nova Twins’ third album is also the first record the pair have written after being able to tour extensively. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped the planned victory lap for ‘Who Are The Girls?’ and the band used that time to write ‘Supernova’ instead. “When we first started out, we didn’t really feel like we belonged anywhere. We’ve had to build our own space and now we just want to nurture that,” explained Love.
South said: “We’re so proud of the community that’s built around our band. When you come to a Nova Twins show, it’s so inclusive and our audience are the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Everyone just seems so supportive of each other. We really can’t wait to get back on the road.”
Touring also allowed the band to see how people connect with certain songs. “That allowed us to get more vulnerable with this new album and push our own boundaries,” South added. “Writing it was definitely a journey, we had to get uncomfortable to get comfortable, but I think a lot of people will relate to these songs.
“The difference with this album and what’s come before is that for the first time, we don’t feel like we have anything to prove. All that matters is we love it.”
Nova Twins are returning at a time when British rock is set to dominate summer. Yungblud’s throwing his massive Bludfest for the second year in the row, Bring Me The Horizon are set to headline Reading & Leeds for a second time and Sleep Token are making their debut in topping the bill at Download. “Massive props to Download for being brave and giving a newer act that chance,” Love told NME.
“Festivals need to nurture the next generation because what’s going to happen when all the heritage acts call it a day? Sleep Token are bringing something new to metal and they’re going to put on an incredible show, just like Bring Me did [in 2023]. Now we just need some to see some female headliners…”
“Seeing bands like that at the top of the bill gives you something else to strive for,” added South. “For years, it felt like there was a ceiling to what new bands could achieve but now it feels like anything is possible. It gives you something new to run at.”
‘Monsters’ by Nova Twins is out now on Marshall Records. With an appearance at Boomtown 2025 confirmed, the band will also appear at Omeara in London on February 24 as part of the DHL War Child gigs for Brits Week.
The post Nova Twins tell us about their ferocious comeback single ‘Monsters’ and “chaotic but beautiful” new album appeared first on NME.