British punk act Hex Poseur has unveiled new LP Stunning
The album is streaming in full here:
Spotify
Apple Music
Inspired by sludgy stoner metal, new debut album Stunning is a dark and provocative look into the way women are treated by Hollywood and the concept of celebrity worship. The album title is a poignant double entendre capturing both the beauty standards women are held to but also how sheep are killed in a slaughterhouse.
Hex explains: “Young girls in Hollywood are like lambs to the slaughter – told they will be able to live their dreams, only to be exploited and groomed into a celebrity life. Then when they are seen as ‘too old’ they are cast aside in favour of somebody younger, leaving them damaged and unsure of who they are supposed to be.”
Poseur continues: “On the other side, it is also a personal insight into my own feelings of jealousy and longing I had as a child, wishing to be like young girls I saw on television. The title character of the album, ‘Baby’, is a young girl desperate for fame, doing anything she can to achieve her dreams, only to be groomed and taken advantage of by ‘the Beast’ (a representation of older men in the industry with lots of power).
Leicester, UK’s Hex Poseur delivers a voracious and unerringly bold soundscape, bringing together influence from across garage rock, alternative and punk.
2022 EP Hearsay expressed a disillusionment with modern day politics and social disparity, inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement of the 90’s. Musically, the collection nods to PJ Harvey, Queens of The Stone Age and The White Stripes, an immersive blend of grungy guitars, sharp lyricism and an engrossing vocal delivery.
Poseur has continued to pick up momentum across the UK, with national tours and BBC Radio 1 airplay from tastemaker Alyx Holcombe. Having signed to Manic Kat Records, Hex’s profile has also picked up attention in North America, with press support from Loudwire, Punknews and New Noise Magazine bolstering international exposure.
Sonically, the new record is a unique and captivating arrangement of influences, with the heavier intonations and Siouxsie Sioux-esque early grunge adding a darker aesthetic. The melody is still abundant, with Poseur’s emotive and punk-lined garage-rock soundscape creating the backdrop for a poignant but unerringly engaging set of tracks.
Stunning is out now, on Manic Kat Records.
