NC-Based 6-Piece BLACK BOUQUET Releases Debut ‘Pray To The Knife’

Check out the video for the first single “Until You’re Gone”

Black Bouquet are a Raleigh, NC-based band that are readying the long-anticipated release of their debut album, Pray to the Knife. A six-piece band whose sound incorporates a number of genres, Black Bouquet has a base of My Chemical Romance or Killers-era emo with healthy doses of 80s guitar rock, new wave and goth/post punk, making them attractive to many types of music fans.

From their first single, “Until You’re Gone” to their first EP, Haunt Me Once More, the six-piece Black Bouquet have established their strong sound, but a full album likely means even more stretching for the band. Emotive, evocative and lush, it’s easy to see why it’s taken nearly three years for this album to be ready.

‘Pray to the Knife’ is a story of survival after grief told through the eyes and in the words of troubled lovers. The themes of finding self worth amidst the wreckage of personal traumas, tragedies, and loss are woven through the tracklist in direct, conversational lyricism and pummeling instrumentals that set every scene.

With such a complex and highly-composed style that involves collaborative songwriting and arrangement contributions from all six members, the idea of creating a concept album takes Black Bouquet’s work to yet another level. With harmonies created in the vox, the strings and the guitar work, Pray to the Knife will be an album for the ages to indie rock lovers of all kinds.

The first single “Run and Hide” is due out November 28 with an accompanying video and sets the tone for the relatable and poignant story the band plan to tell. With their influence from early goth bands like Joy Division, The Cure and New Order on full display, the Peter Hook-like bassline marries perfectly with the more modern emo vocals. It’s a novel approach but fans will quickly wonder why no one has created such a marriage before.

Similarly, the video for “Run and Hide” has a perfect balance between 80s goth noir aesthetic and current emo style. Releasing on the same date as the single, this visceral video will drive home the emotional poignancy of the band’s work.

Another teaser follows in late December, with the full album release due February 16, 2024. Breathing new life into emo using sounds and skills from other revitalized genres makes Black Bouquet a promising powerhouse fans will want to watch.

Watch the video for lead single “Run and Hide”, out November 28th.

More Info:
Artist Name: Black Bouquet
Location: Raleigh, NC
Release Title: Pray to the Knife
Release Date: February 16th
Label: Independent (Unsigned)
Producer Name(s): Self-Produced. Engineered by John Agnello (who has worked with Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Nothing)
Similar/RIYL: The Cure, The Killers, New Order, My Chemical Romance
Genre(s): Post-Punk, Gothic Rock, Emo

Musician Names/Instruments:
Violet O – Vocals.
Ian Jones – Bass.
Hunter Corrin – Guitar.
Michael Rumple – Drums & backing vocals.
Laura Mooney – Viola & backing vocals.
Dan Irving – Synths & backing vocals.

Tracklist:

My Love
Pendulum
Serpents
Footsteps
Carved
Prom
A Window With No Curtains
Ashes
Run And Hide
No More Blood
Pray to the Knife

Accolades:
* Headlined OUT! Raleigh Pride in 2023.
* They were a Hopscotch Music Festival official artist in 2023.

Artist Biography:

“Black Bouquet is a six-piece band from Raleigh, North Carolina consisting of viola, guitar, synths, drums, bass and vocals. The band formed in 2017 and has developed a sound that fuses 80’s goth, early 2000’s indie rock and the baroque arrangements of modern art rock.”