THVS - Plague Widows

THVS - Plague Widows

I first came across Belfast trio THVS via Facebook, wherein a colleague of mine decreed them to be “RAD!!!!” Not long after, I had the opportunity to listen to their newest EP Plague Widows (You can tell a lot from the name). I decided to partake in this opportunity. After all, I’ve never been one to refute such an endorsement.

Before even listening, I was drawn to, and a little disgusted by, the sleeve cover, which seemed to be a negative colouring of an X-ray of some sort. My mind flashed back to the equally creepy sleeve of Massive Attacks Mezzanine (a magnified snapshot of an insect. Like a car crash, in that it is both horrifying and yet oddly magnetising). With a shudder, I pulled my eyes over to the now buffered opening song Mayblood. I began to see a theme develop in their dictation.

Describing themselves as ‘cathartic, visceral… and intense” on social media, I find myself unable to disagree. This distortion heavy brand of hard rock lacks a razor edge, instead opting for a sledgehammer approach to music. Screeching vocals back up a scathing attack, which itself is fuelled by a combustion engine that runs on gritty, thick guitar riffs. An insidious creep oozes from the acoustics, conjuring an image of some malevolent mass surging towards the listener. This full-throttle approach does not allow for much manoeuvrability which somehow does not matter. Music such as this has a singular approach and focus, to be as loud and purgative as possible. THVS fulfil this well.


Pounding drums, shredded guitar and vocals that would seem more comfortable in a war cry. All crucial elements in the makeup of THVS, and more than enough to solidify them as one of the more escaping bands on the hardcore scene.

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