The aggressive-yet-whimsical leanings of 9 O’Clock Nasty’s music has never been difficult to spot. With a growing catalog of instantly catchy pieces of alternative rock that drip with character and swagger, ‘King Thing’ comes to add a spot of memorable sophistication to the group’s formula.
Based in the charismatic town of Leicester, 9 O’Clock Nasty are an outfit that specializes in music that is seemingly rowdy and brash, yet it is their signature to deal clearly deep philosophical messages in their hairy and hammer-fisted songs. ‘King Thing’ handles racial imbalance and toxic masculinity; about a feeling that you are more powerful and preferred than your peers, because of your white male privilege, yet it also handles the guilt and rage that lies behind toxic masculinity and white supremacy.
‘King Thing’ deals with all of that through a sample of the immortal ‘When the Levee Breaks’ drum part, slightly sped-up, but instantly recognizable. The song also deviates from the outfit’s rowdy vocal hooliganism for a second half that’s based on a crystal-clear guitar arpeggio and a contemplative chord sequence that go alongside relatively smooth vocal harmonies in the background. It is worth noting that this iteration of ‘King Thing’ follows the same song that was released in 2023, re-recorded with all the new tricks the band have picked up along the way, which speaks of how important ‘King Thing’ has been for the group.
Again, surprising listeners with their profound depth that is often in stark contrast to their sonic haphazardness, 9 O’Clock Nasty continue to prove that they are a band of intelligence and with a unique musical persona that is not to be taken lightly. With a quickly growing catalog, ‘King Thing’ is a look back on the skills the band has gained over the past years, and a display of their lyrical prowess.
