There’s no denying that life is a rollercoaster, but for some, it can often feel like you’re riding blindfolded – unsure whether each twist and turn will bring exhilaration or exhaustion.
This has certainly been the case for Tor Maries, the Bristol based singer-songwriter better known as Billy Nomates. After enduring misogynist abuse following her performance at Glastonbury in 2023, the death of her father after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s, and, to top it all off, a recent MS diagnosis, it became obvious that her odds in the lottery of life weren’t always going to be in her favour. Still, she held on tight, finding catharsis in the chaos by channeling these experiences into her whirlwind third LP, Metalhorse. “From the second I started working on this album, every other month has brought this massive life shift that has either been weirdly magical and brilliant, or quite the opposite.” Maries explains. “What I’m really looking for, now, is something in between.”
Loosely based on the theme of a dilapidated funfair, Metalhorse follows Billy Nomates’ self-titled 2020 debut and 2023’s breakout follow-up CACTI. Produced by James Trevascus and featuring industry veterans Mandy Clarke and Liam Chapman on bass and drums respectively, it’s the first of Maries’ works to be recorded in a studio with a full band. The result is a much broader sonic palette, while still retaining the rough-and-ready charm of her earlier releases.
Saddling up straight onto the title track, ‘Metalhorse’ is a dizzying carousel ride, leaving one dazed as the song ends and stumbles off into a sample of fairground sounds. ‘Nothin Worth Winnin’s left-field shift into drum machines and thick synths is a gamble, but one that pays off. Maries bemoans being forced to fight battles that aren’t worth the effort, while slot machines bleep and coins crash. It’s another instance of everyday noises nestled amongst the album: lead single ‘The Test’ layers its woozy keys with a whirring motorbike, while ‘Comedic Timing’s razor sharp vocals are cut through with canned laughter.
‘Override’ reaches its arms back 40 years and yanks out what could well be a forgotten ‘80s chart hit, although its saccharine synths and hyperactive bass prove somewhat draining over multiple listens. ‘Dark Horse Friend’, however, is post-punk perfection – unsurprising, considering the track features a veteran of the genre. Maries was working on the song at Paco Loco Studios in Saville when she mentioned to her producer that she was trying to emulate the vocal style of Hugh Cornwell, lead singer of The Stranglers. Engineer and studio owner Paco overheard, and told Maries that Cornwell would be coming into the studio the following day. Asking him to feature on the track was an opportunity too good to pass up – especially considering that Maries’ dad was a devoted Stranglers fan. “We had ‘Golden Brown’ playing at my dad’s funeral. He was buried in a Stranglers t-shirt.” Maries recalls. “[Hugh] is such a big, prominent figure in my life…The whole thing felt like a fever dream.”
Despite being less than two minutes in length, ‘Life’s Unfair’ stands as one of the album’s most evocative tracks, with bottled rage leaking out through little more than searing vocals and barebones organ. In another shift in tone likely to leave the listener with whiplash, Marie describes second single ‘Plans’ as “getting on the Waltzers at the end of the world.” Throwing caution to the wind as she boards the rickety ride, she briefly ruminates on the domination of AI and a potential third world war, before exclaiming “Ah fuck it!”. Backed by a bounding bassline and psychedelic synths, It’s a shot of adrenaline that’s worth the risk – a love song to love, in and amongst all the chaos of modern existence.
In a laidback throwback to noughties indie rock, ‘Gas’ sees Maries letting off steam as drums of all kinds dominate, while ‘Strange Gift’ is exactly that – a sparkling acoustic gem floating amongst rough seas, where comfort is found in accepting the unexpected. Then bam – it’s straight into getting on with life, whatever the hell it may bring, as upbeat finale ‘Moon Explodes’ shines bright.
As we reach the end and exhale at last, one thing is for certain: no matter how rundown the ride, we’ll be lining up to see what Billy Nomates brings next time the carnival’s in town.
Metalhorse is out May 16th via Invada Records.
