Forever frantic, sometimes, okay, ridiculous, and always intense, Ridiculous Bitch is a band born at the razor edge between unbridled passion and sheer talent. They bring a punk attitude to the table that acts as a kind of weapon, along with a reputation for a wild stage presence that has attracted an intense and loyal fan base from the depths of the NYC underground scene. This musical beast, the result of a potent combination of Jimmie Marlowe, Karen Xerri, Don Berger, Dominick Martes, and Lach Driver, has at last released their new album, consisting of eight tracks entitled “Die About It”. Released on April 1st, here we have an album that will not take any punches, so let’s get right down to the nitty-gritty.

Our first stop is “Lady Sadie,” which eschews the usual melody buildup in favor of a more experiential listening experience. The song starts with a wave of static atmosphere accompanied by the faint crackle of an old-fashioned radio broadcast, the kind where you search for a connection through the rain and a subtle voice performance. All of this breaks down at the twenty-five-second mark when a high-energy rock riff punches through the noise barrier. Our subject is someone who epitomizes underground culture, a lady whose life is a perfect storm of beauty and chaos, and who has embraced this chaos. She seemed shy at first, but this time she is ready to face the chaos head-on. Musically, her voice on the track is wild and primal, accompanied by the instrumental backing of a gritty garage rock ensemble, the perfect opening track you could ever imagine

Moving into “Lost My Wife”, the group shifts from static to dynamic, confident swagger. This track opens with an aggressive, stuttering guitar riff, almost an interrogative rhythm. While the title suggests otherwise, the lyrics focus on the sorrow of watching someone you love losing one’s past self, losing the person you first fell in love with. The persona in this song tells how he had lost his wife. Through the lyrics you notice that this loss isn’t physical but rather emotional. The character tells us the various things that he lost his wife to and even admits that this change happened right after they got married. Was this wife pretending all along?, I guess we will never know. The vocal performance here is highly versatile, shifting seamlessly from a low, intimate whisper to a grandiose shriek. There is a theatrical intensity that highlights the gravity of the lost identity in question

However, “Engage” draws us once again into a space that is more hectic and fast paced. The introduction is marked by an incessant beat on the guitar that could pass for a ticking time bomb or a racing heart. The lyrics address the exhaustion associated with performance in the contemporary era, delving into the requirement to be connected until there is nothing left in the tank. The character in the song is tired of conforming and drinking the general kool aid as it were and gives the status quo a middle finger The music is thick and oppressive, reflecting the burnout outlined in the lyrics and it was really fun to head bang to

The mood becomes chilly and analytical with “Cry about it.” The piece opens with a quiet but very nice bass before the electric guitar sets in. Cry about it” is an acidic depiction of the “pretty hurricane,” a person who uses their own disarray to cause damage. The persona in the song tells the person she’s addressing to cry about it. It’s the equivalent of “cry me a river” and makes the song interesting to follow. The vocals shine in this track, giving an artistic edge that is both beautiful and deadly. “Cry about it” is a track for people who have felt worn out by others’ melodrama.

“Rainy Day Recesses” transports us into the most reflective section of the album. It opens with a brief line in Japanese then, we hear a reverberant percussive beat. This track deals with the melancholic nostalgia of one’s childhood years and the corners of the mind where we seal away our most ancient wounds. Musically, the song becomes more flexible, with the singing voice descending into a melodic vulnerability, permitting the listener to breathe once again amidst lyrical reminders of past injuries.

“Kafka Was the Rage” is one of those songs that really stands out. The opening is dominated by a heavy, warped bassline that echoes the sound made by a swarm of bees, directly referencing the surreal nightmare referenced in the song’s title. This is an ode to those who are lost in life, trying to understand a world where everything has become meaningless. It’s a disorienting musical piece with unexpected turns and twists, and one that is sure to get listeners thinking about the “rage” implied by the title.

For “Little Boy Blue”, the record turns to a more serious tone and a swamp-like vibe. The introduction is a groovy riff that makes you feel as though you are slogging through the muck. The concept revolves around the theme of neglect and the regret of having slept when there was a duty to do so. The vocal style is gritty and filled with regret, mirroring the slow and harsh instrumental track.

The album reaches its final chapter with “Cadence”. The song begins with a tribal, steady drum beat, a final, defiant march toward the exit. It’s a song about reclamation and finding your own tempo after a lifetime of following someone else’s lead. The musicality is grand and expansive, featuring an electric guitar section that feels like a triumphant exhale. It leaves the listener with a sense of hard-won peace, a reminder that while the world might be a “punk-glam brawl,” your own rhythm is the only thing that can truly save you.

Having come back from the harsh cold winds of the tour they undertook in Japan, Ridiculous Bitch have finally released another musical gem, “Die About It”, which is undoubtedly an amazing work of art crafted with care by the band’s guitarist, Jimmie Marlowe. This album is a true masterpiece which requires your full engagement,  I just got hooked by the music, finding myself dancing around with the help of my air guitar trying to follow the powerful razor sharp riffs the album consists of. Ridiculous Bitch, you’re really a band of real stars and I am dying with anticipation for your next album!

Stream  the “Die About It” album on Spotify

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