B-Side Guys

Brothers Kody and Kyle Valentine, recording as The Holy Knives, have always understood the power of atmosphere. On “Manipulator,” their New Orleans roots and Los Angeles present collide in a deliciously dark examination of deception, with producer Jamie Hince (The Kills) helping to crystallize their most focused vision yet.

The production, mixed by Peter Labberton, creates a sonic landscape that feels both vintage and visceral. The track’s opening guitar riff slices through the mix with predatory precision, setting up the story of a charming deceiver with perfect musical menace. The reference to “blood between your teeth” becomes more chilling against this backdrop of controlled chaos.

What’s particularly striking is how the arrangement maintains tension through restraint. The brothers have clearly learned from their pandemic-era studio experiments at ‘The Sparring Program,’ crafting layers that reveal new details with each listen. Engineer Mario Ramirez captures every nuance of this careful construction, from the lowest growl to the highest shine.

The chorus’s repeated prayer for absence transforms from wish to incantation through its iterations, gaining power with each repetition. This is where The Holy Knives demonstrate their gift for turning personal narrative into universal experience – anyone who’s encountered a skilled manipulator will recognize the desperate hope in these words.

The band’s cited influences – from western film scores to 90s trip-hop – weave seamlessly through the track’s DNA. A subtle nod to the Bee Gees appears not just in lyrics but in the way certain rhythmic elements echo through the mix, though filtered through a considerably darker lens. This ability to transmute influences while maintaining their essence shows the band’s growing confidence.

The bridge section provides a masterclass in dynamic control, with each instrument entering the conversation exactly when needed. It’s here that the brothers’ extensive touring experience (over 125 shows across North America pre-pandemic) reveals itself in their intuitive sense of tension and release.

Hince’s production fingerprints are evident in the way the track balances raw energy with meticulous detail. The result feels both carefully crafted and dangerously alive – much like the character being described in the lyrics. Nomograph Mastering’s work ensures every element cuts through with perfect clarity.

The track’s structure mirrors its subject matter, drawing listeners in with seemingly simple hooks before revealing deeper, darker layers. Eric Waetzig’s cover art complements this approach, providing a visual component to the song’s exploration of attractive danger.

“Manipulator” proves The Holy Knives have found their sound not by settling into a groove but by constantly pushing against their own boundaries. It’s a track that rewards close attention while maintaining enough immediate impact to work on first listen – a balance that suggests these brothers are just beginning to show what they’re capable of creating.