“Post-punk male-female duo band. Two basses and a drum machine. No Guitar, No BS. MADE IN CHICAGO.” This self-prescribed description encapsulates the raw, uncompromising ethos of BELLHEAD, an emerging name in Chicago’s vibrant underground scene. With their new EP Threats, out April 8th on Oppressive Sky Records, Ivan Russia (high bass, vocals, drum programming) and Karen Righeimer-Schock (low bass, vocals) have crafted a release that simultaneously honours their established sound while pushing into bold new sonic territory.
Since bursting onto the scene, BELLHEAD has steadily built a reputation for their intense live performances and distinctive sonic approach. While 2023’s Good Intentions established their foundation, Threats represents a leap in their musical journey. The duo has abandoned their signature black and white branding for vibrant yellow, and this visual shift mirrors the sonic expansion evident throughout the EP’s seven tracks.
Engineered by Neil Strauch and mastered by Carl Saff, Threats showcases a band that has grown confident in their songwriting abilities. The five original compositions maintain the core elements longtime fans expect—dark themes, driving rhythms, and dual-bass assault—while incorporating more sophisticated arrangements and memorable hooks. The addition of two remixes transforms what might have been a straightforward post-punk EP into a more ambitious, multi-pronged affair.
The EP opens with its strongest offering, the title track ‘Threats’. Here, Russia’s raspy vocals narrate the tale of a fiercely independent woman with a penchant for danger, delivering the menacing refrain “If I can’t break your heart, then no one will” over fuzzy, distorted bass lines. The track establishes the EP’s dark narrative framework while incorporating an almost psychedelic undercurrent that elevates it beyond conventional post-punk.
‘Heart Shaped Hole’ continues the momentum with Righeimer-Schock taking on a portion of vocal duties, backed by gospel-inspired harmonies on the haunting chorus. “I’ve been waiting for a vengeful god” declares further lyrics. The middle section of the EP takes a slight detour with ‘Shutters + Stutters,’ a deceptively gentle track that builds slowly into a rock-oriented climax, while ‘No Dead Horses’ embraces industrial elements with its tales of truck stops and incarceration delivered over a relentlessly dirty bass line. ‘Double Jeopardy’ closes out the original material by once again indulging the psychedelic leanings of the opener, featuring a groovy verse structure and an emotionally charged chorus.
What transforms Threats from a routine release of post-punk with pop and industrial tendencies, and into something more dynamic, are the two closing remixes. The Stabbing Westward remix of ‘Bad Taste’ (featuring Chris Hall) is nothing short of explosive—a full-throttle EBM banger that could easily dominate alternative club nights with its aggressive vocals and pounding rhythm. Clubdrugs‘ remix of ‘Heart Shaped Hole’ offers a more atmospheric but also dance-floor-ready reinterpretation that retains the original’s dark essence while amping up its industrial elements.
Despite this stylistic range, Threats maintains thematic coherence through its lyrics. Throughout the EP, Russia and Righeimer-Schock craft narratives of abandonment, despair, and youthful recklessness that connect even the most disparate-sounding tracks. The lyrical focus, combined with the catchiness of some choruses, provides an emotional anchor that makes the EP feel cohesive despite its sonic explorations.
For fans of the intersecting worlds of post-punk, industrial, and darkwave, Threats offers something to appreciate. The title track alone justifies the price of admission, but it’s the journey through the EP’s stylistic shifts that engages the listener all the way through. As BELLHEAD continues to evolve, Threats stands as evidence that this Chicago duo has the creative vision and technical skill to become a significant force in the dark corners of American alternative music.
Catch BELLHEAD Live
In support of Threats, BELLHEAD is embarking on an extensive tour starting in March 2025:
- 3/12 – Reggies Rock Club- Chicago, IL (w/ Gost and Dead Register)
- 3/15 – RPL Nordlof Center – Rockford, IL (w/ William Faith / The Funeral March)
- 3/21 – Art Sanctuary – Louisville, KY (w/ Living Dead Girl / Black Season Witch)
- 3/27 – Black Circle Brewery – Indianapolis, IN (w/ Amulet / Until We R Dust)
- 3/28 – Port Of Kenosha – Kenosha, WI (w/ The Yates Kids / Something Is Waiting)
- 4/05 – The Hook and Ladder – Minneapolis, MN (Fireseek Festival)
- 4/24 – Rose Bowl Tavern – Urbana, IL (Bat Factory)
- 4/25 – Art Sanctuary – Louisville, KY (w/ Radio Arcane DJs)
- 4/26 – Spectrum Record Lounge – Cape Girardeau, MO (w/ Gary Robert and Community)
- 4/27 – Sk8bar – Kansas City, MO
- 5/03 – Liar’s Club – Chicago, IL (w/ Skatenigs)
- 5/04 – Falcon Bowl – Milwaukee, WI (w/ Skatenigs / Choke Chain)
- 5/09 – Smalls – Detroit MI (kats Fixation Festival w/ Assemblage23, Cyanotic, Al1ce and more)
- 5/30 – Chicago Steampunk Convention
- 8/09 – Healer, Indianapolis IN (Bats over Indy Fest)
Additional dates to be announced soon.
Threats is available for pre-order now at https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/album/threats
For more information, visit bellheadband.com or follow BELLHEAD on Facebook and Instagram.
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