If there’s a single word to define Saint Agnes, it’s committed. Two words? Fully committed. Hailing from the UK, this ferocious four-strong outfit are all about honest lyrics, intense vocal performances (from Kitty A. Austen), plus rage-fuelled music intended to give a voice to those closer to the fringe than the centre. As much gang as band, Saint Agnes seek to empower those who’ve been battered and bruised yet refuse to lie down, and it’s a thread that runs deep within ‘Bloodsuckers’ – SA’s first album for Spinefarm, the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Welcome To Silvertown’, issued on the band’s own label. In addition to ‘… Silvertown’, Saint Agnes have released a number of singles, videos and EPs, embarked on headline tours in both the UK and Europe, and appeared at a host of festivals, including Download, 2000 Trees, Isle of Wight and Kendal Calling; but it’s now, in 2023, that they’ve fully hit their stride, confirming a spring / summer European run with Monster Magnet, and defining precisely what it means to be a fully paid-up member of the Death or Glory Gang. One thing’s for sure, it’s got nothing to do with rule-books or playing it safe… From the title track (also lead single / video) onwards, ‘Bloodsuckers’ is a genre-jumping body of work, taking in elements of metal, punk, industrial and grunge, without being bound by any specific style; the 11 tracks here come straight from the source, largely self-produced and mixed (NIN collaborator Sean Bevan lends his mixing skills to future single / video, ‘Follow You’), and this self-contained approach provides an extra emotional weight throughout, with doom trap provocateur and Kerrang! cover artist Mimi Barks further fuelling the chaos on the short, sharp shock that is ‘Body Bag’. Created in the months following the unexpected and untimely death of Kitty’s mother, ‘Bloodsuckers’ explores a number of themes, including mental illness, pent-up rage, undying love and, of course, grief; from the trash-metal howl into the night that is ‘Bloodsuckers’ right through to broken ballad, ‘This Is Not The End’, a poignant reflection of Kitty’s still-raw emotions, this is a call to outsiders everywhere… Concludes Kitty: “Creating this album gave me a reason to get to my feet at a time when I really wasn’t sure if I could. I’ve tried to put everything I’ve been feeling into it, all the pain, the rage, the grief, even the unexpected moments of beauty and belief. I hope it makes you feel less alone. I hope it makes you feel bigger, badder and stronger. We might be damaged but that doesn’t mean we’re worthless. This is a record for the defeated, the crushed. We might be broken but that doesn’t mean we’re not whole. Bloodsuckers forever, Saint Agnes forever.” Saint Agnes are:- Kitty A. Austen – Vocals, Guitar, Bass Jon James Tufnell – Guitar, Vox, Bass Andrew Head – Drums