originally published: 12/06/2023

Black Bouquet are a Raleigh, NC-based band that are readying the release of their debut album, Pray to the Knife. A six-piece band whose sound incorporates a number of genres, Black Bouquet has a base of My Chemical Romance or Killers-era emo with healthy doses of 80s guitar rock, new wave and goth/post punk, making them attractive to many types of music fans.

The first single "Run and Hide" was released on November 28 with an accompanying video and sets the tone for the relatable and poignant story the band plan to tell. With their influence from early goth bands like Joy Division, The Cure and New Order on full display, the Peter Hook-like bassline marries perfectly with the more modern emo vocals. It's a novel approach but fans will quickly wonder why no one has created such a marriage before.

Similarly, the video for "Run and Hide" has a perfect balance between 80s goth noir aesthetic and current emo style. Releasing on the same date as the single, this visceral video will drive home the emotional poignancy of the band's work.

From their first single, "Until You're Gone" to their first EP, Haunt Me Once More, the six-piece Black Bouquet have established their strong sound, but a full album likely means even more stretching for the band. Emotive, evocative and lush, it's easy to see why it's taken nearly three years for this album to be ready.

'Pray to the Knife' is a story of survival after grief told through the eyes and in the words of troubled lovers. The themes of finding self worth amidst the wreckage of personal traumas, tragedies, and loss are woven through the tracklist in direct, conversational lyricism and pummeling instrumentals that set every scene.

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With such a complex and highly-composed style that involves collaborative songwriting and arrangement contributions from all six members, the idea of creating a concept album takes Black Bouquet's work to yet another level. With harmonies created in the vox, the strings and the guitar work, Pray to the Knife will be an album for the ages to indie rock lovers of all kinds.

The full album is due to be released on February 16, 2024. Breathing new life into emo using sounds and skills from other revitalized genres makes Black Bouquet a promising powerhouse fans will want to watch. 

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