Vetna – King Whammy (2025)
Vetna’s latest single, ‘King Whammy’, is a daring, psychedelic odyssey through emotional turbulence. Clocking in at just over eight minutes, the track cements the collective’s commitment to bold experimentation and narrative-driven composition. Following their evocative 2024 release ‘Marta’, Vetna double down on emotional and sonic complexity, offering a sprawling, shape-shifting piece that resists convention while deeply rewarding repeated listens.
From the opening seconds, ‘King Whammy’ envelops the listener in an atmosphere that feels both dreamlike and urgent. A ghostly synth haze rises behind a syncopated, post-rock-inspired drum line. The main guitar riff, originally conceived in the isolation of the Ligurian Apennines during lockdown, emerges with hypnotic insistence, setting the stage for a journey that is anything but linear.
Structured more like a cinematic suite than a conventional single, ‘King Whammy’ unfolds in movements, each reflecting the emotional phases of a fractured, possibly obsessive relationship. What’s remarkable is Vetna’s refusal to present these stages chronologically. Instead, the song loops and spirals through moods, like memories resurfacing in a half-lucid dream. This nonlinear progression mirrors the complexities of human emotion and relationships; raw, illogical, and deeply real.
Lore Chia’s vocals are a tour de force, shapeshifting from ethereal whispers to punk-inflected howls, perfectly complementing the track’s dynamic shifts. At times, she seems to speak from within the eye of the storm; at others, she’s the storm itself. Her performance walks the line between clarity and ambiguity, often feeling more like an emotional exorcism than traditional lyricism.
Vetna are firing on all cylinders, instrumentally. The collective’s signature blend of 90s and 00s alternative rock, post-rock textures, and electronic elements is on full display. Gritty bass lines reminiscent of early trip-hop underpin shimmering synths and distorted guitars, creating a layered and immersive soundscape. Psychedelic flourishes drift in and out, never overused, but always enhancing the mood. Jim Barr’s production at J&J Studio lends the track both polish and bite, ensuring every sonic shift lands with impact.
Though ‘King Whammy’ resists easy interpretation, it invites listeners to project their own meanings, which is an approach Vetna encourages. Whether you experience the song as a confessional, a fever dream, or a psychological thriller, its emotional resonance lingers long after the final note fades.
Find out more about Vetna on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
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