Nu-metal has been a metal music subgenre for decades, and with this music genre, evolution is inevitable. Bands like Papa Roach have evolved into combining more modern-day pop elements into their music, and Fever333 have a punk approach to their version of nu-metal with their songwriting. The ever evolving Nova Twins combine nu-metal with punk and electronic elements to create a hybrid of hip-hop, and extreme music unlike anything the world has heard before, and on Parasites & Butterflies, their well-established sound develops even further, to create a mature, yet fun sounding record which combines all of the above with catchy choruses, something this duo seemingly strives for.
The album kicks off with ‘Glory’. When the chorus kicks in for the first time, it sounds almost ethereal, as the grandiose nature of the hook thanks to the vocal layering which sounds as if it should not work, but it does, and it sounds huge. This song ends with a heavier section showcasing that this is going to be a record that is as heavy as it is electronic.
‘Monsters’ has the best vocal performance on this album. The chorus is pure hard rock gold, as the verses have a more modern-day hip-hop feel. The twins manage to combine these two elements to perfection as the song segues through verses, choruses and the bridge flawlessly, which is a near impossible task when you combine the music genres that this two-piece combine.
If there is one song on Parasites & Butterflies that is written for a live show, it is ‘N.O.V.A.’ The call and response nature of the chorus seems like it was written for a crowd to yell back at the Twins. Musically though, this is the rap song of the record. The verses are both rapped, and the hook is not sung, but feels as if it is yelled, yelled to a packed room filled with fans.
‘Sandman’ just like the album opener, starts with a melody before the verse kicks in. The chorus here is a mix of normally sung vocals with melodies that sound slightly edited, but it works. As a matter of fact, because of this, the song stands out. There is a breakdown which serves as the bridge before the chorus kicks in one last time, as a similar breakdown closes the track off.
Up until now, there have been plenty of standout choruses, and ‘Parallel Universe’ may have the most infectious one of them all. The verse is a simple pop sounding one, but as the pre-chorus is played for the first time, anticipation is building, and when the fast-paced chorus hits, the listener is hooked immediately. What marks this song as another stand-out, is that the included breakdown here is the only one that includes harsh vocals, which makes this ‘Parallel Universe’ as the only track on this record that includes any harsh vocals.
The album closer here also has a fantastic chorus. I love a song that starts with a good hook, and the way it is introduced makes it sound menacing, but when it comes back after the first verse, it sounds as if a pop-punk band wrote it. The bridge on this song has the most intricate guitar part on the record which gives the listener a glimpse of how talented the twins are. This all leads to the final chorus of the record as the album abruptly ends after this last hook.
One thing to keep in mind when listening to Parasites & Butterflies is that all the songs apart from one are shorter than four minutes. This not only helps the record flow from track to track but also shows that the Nova Twins are comfortable writing these shorter songs. As innovative as some of these tracks are, there are some concepts such as the electronic sounds that could be experimented with further to give this album even more intriguing bridges and instrumentals.
With this being said, Parasites & Butterflies is a fantastic record which is packed with infectious and memorable hooks that will stay in your head for days, and that is what the twins wanted to achieve. The short songs keep you hooked to the album as when one track ends, the following one starts mere seconds afterwards, and as there are no ballads or slow tracks, that is extremely impressive. The fact that this album flows this easily proves that Nova Twins have a winning formula, and if they continue to evolve their sound, they could easily revolutionise what we think of nu-metal and maybe even punk in the future.
Nova Twins: Parasites & Butterflies – Out 29 August 2025 (Marshall Records)
Twins – Monsters (Official Music Video)
