Three years after their scathing Must Be… EP, Niis (pronounced “nice”) are gearing up for their proper debut. The Los Angeles punks have a new album, Niis World, on the way, arriving March 28 via Get Better Records.
Taking cues from Crass, Hole, and Subhumans, the band’s cutting messages defy their name, throwing punk, garage rock, and grunge into a blend of abrasive noise. While that sound is stickier on their latest song, and the record’s opening track, “Low Life,” the band haven’t lost any of their bite, inspired by a toxic relationship that left vocalist Mimi depleted. In time, “Low Life” builds into an anthem, grappling with grief, rage, and the ability to recognize your own potential within the mess.
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“‘Low Life’ is a song about heartbreak and taking your power back after that experience,” Mimi says. “It’s about taking off the rose-colored glasses and moving on. Seeing someone for who they are and accepting that so you can begin the process of falling in love with yourself again.”
The band will also play these new songs on the road throughout April and May, stopping by more than a dozen cities with support from Kent Osborne and Pollyanna.
Check out the “Low Life” video, directed by Meriel O’Connell, below.
Niis – Niis World tracklist
1. “Low Life”
2. “The Bow”
3. “BYD”
4. “Tyrant”
5. “Spite”
6. “STK”
7. “Driveaway”
8. “Scatter”
9. “New Pig”
10. “Wasted”