'Butterflies' The Kowloons - song review

The Kowloons really hit the nail on the head with their new track, ‘Butterflies’, marking the new era for the band they have us all excited for. Released on Friday as part of their upcoming EP, the track has already racked up nearly 2,500 streams. Recorded at the infamous Kempson Studios, this may just be one of the best songs to come out of there.

After my first listen, I’m not afraid to admit that ‘Butterflies’ went straight into my playlist. It’s refreshing to hear a band step outside of their usual material and experiment with something that feels completely different, while still retaining the identity that makes The Kowloons who they are.

Stephen Ng’s lead vocals reinforce the Brit-rock sound the band prides themselves on, accompanied by backing vocals from Anthony Ng, together their distorted vocals create an almost psychedelic feeling that runs throughout the track. There’s no point where you find yourself waiting for the “main part” to arrive because it doesn’t need one. The song simply keeps building on itself, with Mason Jones’ riffs tying everything together to create what is, dare I say, a near-perfect piece of music.

And then there’s the “Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.”

I can already hear it becoming a staple at The Kowloons’ gigs, with fans shouting it straight back at the band. There’s something instantly infectious about it, almost as if the line was written to be screamed back by a packed room.

What really stands out is how much is happening without the song feeling overcrowded. The distorted vocals, layered sounds and relentless riffs all seem to fight for your attention, yet they layer perfectly together. It gives it a chaotic feeling that works.

By the time the song comes to an end, you instantly want to play it again just to catch everything you missed the first time. Its loud, experimental and catchy whilst still taking in the bands character and without it being overbearing. I am excited to see what comes next for the band and its upcoming EP.