Ukrainian trio Death Pill have delivered a kick-ass album of feisty hardcore punk that harnesses the stance and attitude of the Riot Grrrl movement. And of course, the album’s release is more pertinent in light of being completed just before the atrocity of the Russian invasion last year.
The Kyiv trio’s story began back in 2017 when vocalist and guitarist Mariana Navrotskaya proposed that she and drummer Anastasiia (Nafa) Khomenko should play music together. As Anastasiia tells us: “Our motivation was an absolute love of music, an unstoppable spirit and a desire to rub it in the noses of all the men who still think that women don’t belong in punk rock.”
They went through several bassists before completing their “Golden Team” as Nataliia (Nata) Seryakova joined in 2020. Nata tells us: “It was very strange and tricky because Nafa had walked up to me during a local underground gig and said just this, ‘We know that you used to play different music instruments, we have a gig in one month, could you join?’
“I was confused, I haven’t got a bass, and my skills are not very good and Marianna interrupted and said, ‘Tomorrow evening I am dropping off my bass and sending tabs, rehearsal in two weeks, gig in four weeks, and if we organise everything in good time, then let’s go and drink.’ I replied, ‘Damn it. I am in!’ because I like straight tasks and straight answers.”
Since then, the trio have honed a sound the Nata tells us “will turn your imagination about female punk upside down” and Anastasiia describes as “powerful buns from hell.”
And in greater detail, Nata explains: “If you have taste and you are not a snob – you will 89% like it. If we talk only about sound, I would describe it like: It will probably kick your ass until your ears (I don’t know how this is possible anatomically, but that’s what happened with me after listening to the demo)just realized that you are finally an adult and you can close your all old scars and understand that you are not alone with this kind of problem.
“That it is never too late to call your ex and say that he is an asshole and that you kept silent two years ago, or on the contrary, let go of some childhood trauma that gives you peace in the end. That it’s okay not to be silent and express your opinion. I believe that our music can lead to that.”
Our first taste of this is their self-titled debut album, which was released in February. The album opens up in fine style with a long grimey guitar riff kicking off Dirty Rotten Youth. It pauses for a breath before launching back into an avalanche of drums and another chunky riff, before a screamed vocal gives way to another fun riff and intense vocals.
Next up is the excellent Miss Revolt, which opens up with wild vocals supported by a bouncy riff and driving drums. There’s finally a slight drop in pace in the intro to Die For Vietnam, before a fun riff and driving drums build up to engaging clean vocals. The intensity ramps up as heavy vocals take over and drop into a catchy chorus, which ends on wild drums and a funky little lick before a mini-solo drops into a heavy conclusion.
Nata has a special mention for the sixth song Go Your Way, on which she says: “I can tell you secret information that we all a little bit hate Go your Way. For some reason, it was hard for everyone to record it and in live gigs this song stays in the middle and every time we see that next song is “gowest” (I came up with funny names for each song) everyone has an awkward face and makes a deep exhale with regret.”
Either way, we like the track! It opens up with vicious growls over driving drums and a darting riff that gives way to clean drawn-out vocals. Fun chunky guitars drop into a little dreamy section before dropping into a repeat of the opening section. Check it out in the video here:
The album is packed with fesity hardcore punk goodness, but a personal favourite track is Kill The Traitors, which starts out with a lively riff and feeds into Mariana’s intense vocals. A delicious little chorus of clean vocals “If I can only find the way, Kill all who’s betrayed, How you in agony will pray, Last words on your grave” gives way to heavier cries of “Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill the traitors! Kill! Kill! Kill the traitors, kill ’em all!” Check it out here:
On the album, Anastasiia says: “I have all my favorite tracks on the album. They have different personalities, emotions and feelings, everything varies from pure hatred to love. I want people, listening to this album, to go on an unforgettable emotional journey, looking for a response to our cry.
“We worked on this material for quite a long time. While we were writing the album, we changed bass players, sometimes we felt despair that nothing was coming out the way we wanted. However, we stubbornly continued to work. The album was completed already during the full-scale Russian invasion. The feeling that your life could end at any moment greatly accelerated the process, and already on February 24 (a symbolic date for all Ukrainians), our work will be published. It will definitely kick your asses!”
And Nata adds: “Like any music band, we worked hard on this album, adding details, mixing, painting covers and arguing a lot. The main part is already behind and it remains only to wait (waiting is my biggest fear, I hate it), especially since I can’t imagine how the British and European scene will react to it.
“Yes, you can say that punk rock is ‘the same’ everywhere, but personally, I believe that we will definitely add new colors to the underground community after the release. And even more after they see us on stage. It will be awesome!”
The Death Pill sound brings together a wide range of music, from classic and jazz to techno and folk, with key punk influences like Black Flag, NOFX, Dead Kennedys and Misfits.
And on what inspires them to write music, Nata says: I don’t think that we have ever written or will ever write something “mainstream” or “for a special event”, as commercial and popular artists usually do to be at the top of the charts. We write about what hurts each of us personally, about ordinary stories of real life that can happen to anyone.”
There’s plenty more to come from the band, especially in light of what’s happened since they completed the album. Anastasiia said: “We are only interested in winning. And we need to do everything possible to bring our Victory. Our weapon is music and with our voices we will shout loudly! So that we can get back together and have more time to rehearse and write material. We want to spend 2023 in tours and concerts, telling about our country, finding like-minded people, sharing our crazy emotions and playing music.
And Nata says: “I hope we will completely kick all occupants from our motherland and celebrate the Victory. We definitely will have gigs in the summer. Now I am in the process of recording bass for new singles and… I think we keep in mind a couple of things which can encourage our fans. Be careful it can be addictive! You must see our live performance to fully feel all the power of Ukrainian girls.”
Death Pill’s debut album Death Pill is out now on New Heavy Sounds. You can follow the band on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, YouTube, Soundcloud or in physical format.
Photo credit: Haiane Dzhahinian
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