Billy Nomates is back with news of next LP ‘Metalhorse’

Billy Nomates (aka songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Tor Maries) has confirmed that her third album ‘Metalhorse’ will arrive on 16th May via Invada Records, and has previewed it by way of lead single ‘The Test’.

The follow-up to 2023’s ‘CACTI’, ‘Metalhorse’ is set to be the first Billy Nomates project to be recorded in a studio with a live band (clue’s in the name, right?), and was brought to life at Seville’s Paco Loco alongside bassist Mandy Clarke (KT Tunstall, The Go! Team) and drummer Liam Chapman (Rozi Plain, BMX Bandits). 

A concept album underpinned by the idea of a neglected funfair, the album takes in the soaring highs and crippling lows of Tor’s past few years, during which she’s navigated the passing of her dad and her own diagnosis with MS. “To me, Metalhorse is this crumbling fairground where some rides are nice to get on and some rides aren’t,” she has explained. “That’s how life felt for a minute, and it still feels like that a bit now.”

Speaking about ‘The Test’ - a rousing, defiant offering that spotlights her distinctive vocal - Tor has explained that “it’s [about] working at something against the odds and feeling like someone’s helping you from the other side, and if they see you that’s the test. I really feel that when we’re playing it live. Like, with everything that’s going on, I can’t believe this is surviving.” 

You can watch the official visualiser for ‘The Test’ - created by the album’s creative director Tom Skipp - below.