État Coupable

BELGISCH-IRAAKSE BAND USE KNIFE PRESENTEERT NIEUW ALBUM 'ÉTAT COUPABLE', DROPT EERSTE SINGLE 'FREEDOM, ASSHOLE' FT SPOOKY-J

De Belgisch-Iraakse band Use Knife heeft hun nieuwe album 'État Coupable' aangekondigd. De plaat wordt op 28 maart uitgebracht via VIERNULVIER Records en draait om de rauwe synergie tussen de Irakese zanger en percussionist Saif Al-Qaissy, die het door oorlog verscheurde Irak ontvluchtte, en de analoge synths en instrumentale uitbarstingen van de Belgische muzikanten Kwinten Mordijck en Stef Heeren.

A politically charged record questioning the status quo, État Coupable merges stories of war-torn Iraq with disruptive synth sequences and heavy Arabic percussion

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 of the upcoming album, ‘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 gut-wrenching piece of raw electronica that delves into the very definition of freedom. Alongside the launch of the record pre-order, the single will be released on Bandcamp and other streaming platforms on Wednesday, January 29.

Belgian multidisciplinary artist Youniss Ahamad, a longtime collaborator of the project and creator of the band’s live visuals, has shared a video 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 series of live dates have been announced including gigs at Ment Festival (SL), Rewire (NL), Donau Festival (AT) and dunk!festival (BE) among others.