Use Knife État Coupable

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 have announced their new album État Coupable.

Set for release on March 28 via VIERNULVIER Records, 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.

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. Alongside the launch of the record , the single will be released on Bandcamp and other streaming platforms on Wednesday, January 29.

A series of live dates have been announced including gigs at Ment Festival (SL), Rewire (NL), Donau Festival (AT) and dunk!festival (BE) among others.

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

“For me ‘Freedom, Asshole’ is about fighting for freedom even when everything seems bleak”

– Youniss Ahamad

A Quietus Interview

https://thequietus.com/interviews/use-knife-interview/