London’s Cherry i does more than drop songs—they develop whole dimensions. Their latest single, “The Arsonist,” is this enormous, filmic beast that proves they’re the real deal when it comes to building sensation and aura. This isn’t something you throw on in the background. No way. It’s a gradual art-rock odyssey that drags you down into its dark world and traps you there.
With legendary producer Ali Chant at the helm, “The Arsonist” is all about that slow-burn tension. It doesn’t kick down your door—instead, it creeps in with these warped guitars and buried drums, creating this foggy vibe that feels way too quiet. You know that eerie calm before everything goes to hell? That’s what we’re talking about. The track builds this atmosphere so thick you can almost feel it—like ash settling on your skin. Every single piece hits exactly where it needs to. But this band – they’re not just throwing everything at the wall—there’s space here, room for the whole thing to breathe and grow into this massive, dark beast.
And then there’s Nikol. Boy, do her vocals stab right to your core. She takes the brutal reality of war and displacement and spins it into this cryptic, poetic story about a “celestial arsonist,” a “barking dog,” and the “static-soaked memory of a lost home.” Her delivery is stripped down but absolutely crushing—she transforms pain into something stunningly haunting. She’s not simply singing about fire. She IS the embers, still glowing in the dark.
“The Arsonist” tells you to sit down, shut up, and really sink into it. You need to let yourself get lost in all that fire and smoke and broken memories. It’s not easy listening, but man, when a band’s this locked in and swinging for the fences like this? You pay attention. And you know what? Sometimes the stuff that burns slowest leaves the biggest mark. Thank you, Cherry i.