Meet KNIFE BRIDE, the pioneers of their own ‘nu-gothika’ genre

“Being emo or gothic, there was a stigma to it. It was almost like a dirty thing,” Mollie Clack confesses. The KNIFE BRIDE vocalist is recalling how she went to an all-girls’ school growing up, a rather ruthless atmosphere to be ‘different’ in.

Sitting beside guitarist Sean Windle as they sip coffee following the band’s final night on tour with Defects, Mollie reveals how these childhood experiences have enforced her mindset these days.

“It’s important to be like, ‘Right, something that I was made to feel shameful about, I now choose [to take back] the agency and feel good about,’” she says defiantly, before adding a statement that everyone reading this will whole-heartedly agree with: “Emos and goths are fucking rad.”

As part of reclaiming and celebrating alternative culture, the quartet – completed by drummer Sean Millsopp and Craig Glynn on bass – have coined their own genre. ‘Nu-gothika’ is a summation of their visceral and darkly whimsical sound, which pulls influences from Spiritbox, Bring Me The Horizon and even Kate Bush.

Their catalogue has been a slow bloomer, intentionally so, yet as they went on discovering their sonic identity, they were already whisked away on tours with the likes of WARGASM and VUKOVI.

“It is definitely the swan thing,” says Mollie. “Trying to look majestic on the surface but actually your legs are [flapping] underneath. But we love that part. We always know if we’re struggling there’s something really great around the corner.”

Indeed there is, and though remaining fairly tight-lipped about what exactly lies ahead for KNIFE BRIDE, the pair are happy to share that new music is in the works, and that their most recent singles – MELANCHOLIA and TERRITORY – are just the start of something much bigger. Their next release will be conceptual, and will tell a story of “real-life experiences” that “people will understand and resonate with”, according to Sean. There will be themes of love and loss, shame and guilt, but there will be a happy ending. It also captures something nostalgic.

“If there’s something in a song that makes me feel nostalgic, I find it’s a bit easier to latch on to and become obsessed with,” Sean explains. “There are parts of Heriot’s new album [2024’s Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell] that reminded me of being young and discovering metal.”

KNIFE BRIDE’s music takes you through a warping vision of romantic vocal cries and circle-pit-ready riffage. It’s the best of all things vintage goth and modern rock. Because now? Well, it’s the rawr-ing-’20s, of course…

“We’re lucky enough to be in an alternative scene where difference is celebrated,” Mollie says proudly. “Why would we not just fucking go all-out with it?”

This article originally appeared in the winter 2024 issue of the magazine.

Territory is out now. KNIFE BRIDE play Noizzefest in Cardiff on April 26, 2025.

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