Bitter Kisses are on a mission to kick off the year with a sonic explosion. Dropping one of their most scorching tracks yet, “Dissolve,” wasn’t enough for them. Friday night saw a swelling crowd converge on Bristol’s Rough Trade, eager to witness the band ignite the 2024 fuse with a killer hometown performance.
This quartet is riding a tidal wave of momentum, having left 2023 in their wake with their debut EP, “First Kiss,” smashing through the local pop-metal scene’s foundations just a year after their formation. Gemma’s fierce vocals, Josh’s thunderous bass, Thom’s searing guitar, and Scarlett’s powerhouse drumming are putting Bristol’s alternative scene on the map alongside peers like Liquid State and Gurl.
Amidst Rough Trade’s “atmospheric” deep blue lighting, the haunting opening notes of “Doctor’s Note” resonate like a dark incantation. As the intensity builds, the crowd is spellbound , with only one notable absence: drummer Scarlett, sidelined by injury and temporarily replaced by George (No:ir). Yet, Scarlett’s spirit permeates the venue, igniting mosh pits during the explosive “Kamikaze.”
As “Pr*y” and “Downtime” thunder through, Bitter Kisses reaffirm their indelible mark on my psyche. They defy categorization, each track injecting a potent dose of adrenaline. For a band still in their infancy, this is a thunderous warning to any who dare oppose them.
Closing with the ferocious “Dissolve,” Bitter Kisses push the room to the brink of chaos. Scarlett able to gut up and blister the skins for this one. This track is tailor-made for the live stage, unleashing the audience’s primal instincts.
A nostalgic encore featuring “Pretty Please” concludes the sweaty spectacle, marking Bitter Kisses as a band with a armoury that could see them follow in the footsteps of alt-metal freight trains like Vukovi.
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
