“Barbiecore” baddies BRAT are taking a trip through a peak FM-era classic. Following last year’s bangin’ Social Grace LP, the NOLA foursome have now injected growls and sludge-caked guitar tones into Heart’s iconic 1977 single, “Barracuda.”
The Heart tribute hits at the original’s flanger-blazin’ vibe and 500 horsepower gallop, but nevertheless plunges itself into swampier, darker territory. Fittingly enough, Acid Bath/Goatwhore guitarist and onetime Crowbar member Sammy Duet helps the band out with the track, too.
“We wanted to pay tribute to Heart as the original bad bitches of rock, and we thought the opening riff of ‘Barracuda’ would sound great played even heavier,” the band said in a joint statement. “We’ve played the song live many times and people have really seemed to connect with it.”
Does BRAT vocalist Liz Selfish hit those regal high notes like Heart’s Ann Wilson? Well, no, but she does get in some good growls, while the music video has her dressing up like a leafy house plant to freak out a pair of stoners tweaking on some vintage orange sunshine. Seems like a decent trade-off.
There’s no right and no wrong when you’re selling a song, so you should give BRAT’s guttural, galloping Heart cover a spin up above.
Come February, BRAT are hitting Europe for a tour with Napalm Death and Crowbar. You’ll find the date details here.