The Holy Knives is the sonic vision of brothers Kyle and Kody Valentine, a band that infuses the sultry sounds of rock & roll with a tinge of desert psychedelia.  Born and raised in New Orleans, residing in San Antonio, The Holy Knives will release their debut EP, Ritual Bloom, on May 11.  The four-song collection was recorded at Sonic Ranch with Latin Grammy-nominated producer Manuel Calderon (The Chamanas, Nina Diaz). 

Drawing musical inspiration from acts such as Timber Timbre, The Afghan Whigs, and Arctic Monkeys, The Holy Knives’ could be imagined performing at the Bang Bang Bar from Twin Peaks or playing in a True Detective episode. Their belief is that music is a sacred weapon you can use to ward off the march of reality. 

The band took their name from a combination of two of their favorite works of art, the film “The Holy Mountain” by Alejandro Jodorowsky and the poetry book The Singing Knives by Frank Stanford. Both of these works, while of different mediums, conjure a flood of beautiful, thought-provoking imagery, as well as share a fearlessness and a quest for truth through the irrational that The Holy Knives strives to capture in their music. 

Spanish surrealist poet Federico Garcia Lorca termed the word “duende” which Kyle and Kody deeply associate with the music they create.  Duende is spine-chilling art, something that rises from the depths of the soul and is born of the blood. It is something beyond logical comprehension that one feels deeply and understands intuitively. Lorca says the duende, "is a power, not a work. It is a struggle, not a thought." It is a dark, mysterious force that exists but cannot be explained. As opposed to the muse, the duende is an inspirational spirit the artist has to battle every day in hand-to-hand combat. 

The Holy Knives work to embody this idea in both their music and their live show, by having visceral, dreamy music combined with a passionate performance. Their musical vision is powered by their belief in the power of the subconscious as a guide in creating something both unique and universal, something with emotional power that people can relate to and feel deeply in both their blood and bones.