Listen: Du Blonde - "Black Flag"

Replete with cover art right out of a horror B-movie or Cramps album, Du Blonde’s debut single, “Black Flag”, skulks like The Creature from the Black Lagoon oozing from the swamp. Robustly constructed atop a brawny heavy metal stomp, with a smidge of eerie fun house synths for good measure, Houghton cannily vamps akin to rock’s resident vampire, Nick Cave.

It’s a striking about face from Houghton’s previous work, the next “step closer to assuming [her] ultimate form”, one that is seemingly borne of catharsis:

"Black Flag is a good representation of the direction of the album. There are a few quieter, thoughtful tracks but the general mood is one of finally cracking. The record is a powerful release for me. It's the result of finally sitting down and taking a look at my life, what I was angry about, what I needed to change."

Houghton’s debut Du Blonde album is due out later this spring courtesy of Mute Records and catch her live tonight at The Roundhouse in London and 22 February at the 6 Music Festival in Newcastle.