USE KNIFE - ÉTAT COUPABLE

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: VIERNULVIER010
Barcode: 5414165091325
Release Date: 28 Mar 2025
Genre: Electronic/Industrial/Post-Punk/Arabic

Music For A New Society” - The Quietus

Gatefold, LP, Black vinyl . A politically charged record questioning the status quo, ‘État Coupable’ merges stories of war-torn Iraq with disruptive synth sequences and heavy Arabic percussion.

Belgian-Iraqi band Use Knife announce their new album État Coupable.The record revolves around the raw synergy between Iraqi vocalist and percussionist Saif Al-Qaissy, who fled war-torn Iraq, and the analogue synths & instrumental bursts of Belgian musicians Kwinten Mordijck and Stef Heeren.

Belgian multidisciplinary artist and long time collaborator of the project, Youniss Ahamad, has shared a video that embodies unease through distorted images, a black-and-white palette, and abstract bird loops.

Following their acclaimed debut album The Shedding of Skin (2022), the formation has deepened their relationship through numerous live jams, intense touring and story sharing, pushing both their skills and the boundaries of the project. For its successor, État Coupable, this growth has been enriched by various collaborations, including one with Lebanese-Canadian producer Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem in My Heart).

The first single, Freedom, Asshole, features live drums by Spooky-J from Nihiloxica. With lead vocalist Saif singing, 'I envy you because you can close your eyes, you can choose,' the track addresses those who need to be addressed in the Western world, resulting in a gutwrenching piece of raw electronica that delves into the very definition of freedom.

A1. Demain Sera Mieux A2. Iraqi Drum Set  A3. Kadhdhaab  A4. A Reckoning B1. Freedom, Asshole B2. État Coupable  B3. Che Mali Wali

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