On June 14th, Julie Christmas released her first solo album in 14 years, Ridiculous and Full of Blood — one of Revolver’s Best Albums of 2024 So Far. Since then, she’s been touring Europe in support of the record, backed by a veritable all-star team of underground heavy-music musicians including guitarists Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna) and John LaMacchia (Candiria), bassist-producer Andrew Schneider (Kenmode, Unsane), keyboardist Tom Tierney, and drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights), who also happens to be Revolver‘s Brand Partnership Director.
On June 29th, Christmas and Co. played France’s Hellfest Open Air Festival, appearing on the Valley stage, which was headlined by Mr. Bungle that day and also hosted Chelsea Wolfe, Kvelertak, Brutus and more. Today (July 23rd), Hellfest released pro-shot video of her full, hour-long set. Christmas opened the performance in a very Björkian ensemble complete with an alien-looking mask/headdress; later, once her head-piece had been removed, the feather-like strings encircling her dress revealed themselves to be LED lights, extending the extraterrestrial vibe.
As heard in the video above, her voice is otherworldly, too, veering from childlike coos and hushed whispers to banshee screams and operatic swells. Her band lives up to billing, delivering a mix of jagged noise-rock and tectonic post-metal worthy of their pedigree.
Ridiculous and Full of Blood is out now via Red Crk Recordings, the label co-founded by Persson. You can order it here.