Ukrainian riot grrrl trio Death Pill return with ‘Silver Butterfly’, their first track created entirely remotely after war scattered the band across three countries. With Mariana remaining in Ukraine, Nataliia now in Australia and Anastasiia in Spain, recording was further complicated by air raids and power outages. Yet rather than dwelling in that uncertainty, ‘Silver Butterfly’ searches for something increasingly difficult to find: the joy of simply being present.
Chunky hardcore-punk riffs collide with a gloriously low, dirty bass that dominates the verses, while the drums alternate between a straight punk drive and bursts of frantic attack. Brief handclaps bring an unexpectedly playful pop edge, while tempo changes and a mid-song breakdown give the track room to breathe before plunging back into the chaos.
Mariana’s vocal performance is wonderfully unpredictable, starting out almost sweet — albeit slightly unhinged before veering between conversational sneers, screams and ferocious roars. The result feels cathartic, defiant and strangely joyful. “This exhausting race against ourselves gradually strips away the very basic joy of simply living,” the band explain. “‘Silver Butterfly’ is our attempt to freeze time for three minutes and actually feel the moment again.” Death Pill make those three minutes count.
