Rainbow Kitten Surprise – bones

Review

There’s a pulse in bones that sounds like the heartbeat of a band finally shedding its skin. On their fifth full-length, North Carolina’s Rainbow Kitten Surprise emerge from a six-year shadow with ten songs that feel both raw and elevated. Released on September 26, 2025, this record carries the weight of change—both interpersonal and musical—as the band clears out old closets and steps unfiltered into what they’ve become.

The album swings between anthemic alt-rock swagger and moments of introspective stillness. On “Dang” and “Friendly Fire,” the guitars roar and drums stomp with live show energy; on “100 Summers” and “King,” frontwoman Ela Melo leans into emotional reckoning—healing after damage, forgiving others, and forgiving herself. Under the production of Jay Joyce, the sound is bracing but polished—scratchy electric guitars and thick live drums replace the more layered, synth-heavy palette of recent work.

They don’t reinvent their identity, but they refine it—turning restless energy into something focused. bones doesn’t always hit every nuance perfectly—some transitions feel abrupt, a few ideas hover just short of full bloom—but the record’s honesty and momentum win out. This is Rainbow Kitten Surprise uncompromised, exposed and still fierce. - Nora