26th October 2026
Christopher Nosnibor
‘Hypnotic’ and ‘sensual’ aren’t adjectives one tends to associate with grunge – but then, how many French grunge bands do you know? ‘Unholy Addiction’ is the lead single from Pythies’ upcoming debut album, Suck It. Pythies are from Paris. I say ‘are’, but the band is essentially the solo vehicle and vision of Lise. L, who draws influence from Veruca Salt, Sonic Youth, and Hole, with the assistance of additional musicians. Debut EP, Disillusion (2024) was a blast of feedback, fast and furious riffery, and stealthy hooks all delivered with a punky edge, and which fulfilled the title’s promise in terms of sentiment.
By way of a taster for the follow-up, Unholy Addiction suggests something of a progression. It arrives in a trilling wail of feedback, but the overall sound is denser and more polished. The heavily chorused guitar owes as much to Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun’ as anything else, but Lise’s vocal delivery, alongside the structure – which is quintessential grunge, with its quite / loud dynamics and the explosive, driving riff that defines the chorus – means that the vibe is very much Hole circa Live Through This.
The timing of that album’s release meant that its greatness was eclipsed to some extent by circumstance – but history has seen some justice done, and it’s come to be recognised as a true classic of the time, and in its own right.
Paving the way for the new album with a slower song may seem an unusual choice, but then, the first single from Live Through This was the comparatively sedate ‘Miss World’ – a song which was unexpectedly accessible, and brought a sting in the tail. And so it is with ‘Unholy Addiction’, which places more emphasis on melody, both in terms of the guitar line and the multitracked vocal, showcasing a more evolved approach to songwriting and arrangement for Pythies.
Packing in some serious power, accelerating to the finish with driving guitar, thumping bass and a crashing crescendo of drums, ‘Unholy Addiction’ not only recreates the energy and excitement of 1994, but hits like an instant classic.
AA
