Our world pushes on people — sometimes too much — and finding one or more kindred spirits is key to helping us get through it. And sometimes when we push back, the results are supernaturally intense. That’s the central theme of “Hellbound,” the superbly seasonal new single and music video from storied Nashville punks Be Your Own Pet.

The song sounds reminiscent of the hard rock you might expect to hear in an ’80s chiller, a little like Juju-era Siouxsie and the Banshees with high-gain snarl instead of 12-string jangle. Singer Jemina Pearl tells a story of found sisterhood and resistance: “We made a pact / No turning back / I got a secret that I wanna share / All the screams / They taste of blood / I hold them close / Like a little prayer.” Director Balee Greer and cinematographer Dylan Reyes crafted a pitch-perfect accompanying video that takes cues from ’70s exploitation horror — and Carrie.

“I was inspired by all my favorite chaotic evil horror queens,” Pearl explains of the song in an Instagram post. “I was thinking about characters that were outcasts and pushed too far. Then they meet someone who matches their crazy and a switch gets flipped and they're seeking retribution together — maybe with the help of some black magic and the devil, who knows. It's fun to play with that archetype — you know, ‘Fuck it, I'm just burning it all down and I'm taking everyone with me.’ At the end of the day, I support women's rights and women's wrongs.”

In July, Be Your Own Pet celebrated the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut, released when the members were still teens. In 2023, they made a grand comeback with Mommy, their first album in 15 years, on which they handily showed fans that they not only haven’t lost a step but have used the additional years of experience as fuel for their fire. Find “Hellbound” on your favorite streaming service and follow BYOP on Instagram for more.

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