If you like your indie rock on the heavy side, then you might want to check out The Pinpricks, the German band having just hit out with their gritty new EP Rituals – a 3 track celebration of rock that’s already caught the attention of Germany’s biggest rock radio show, Rock Hard Magazine, and Spotify’s editorial playlists, all before the debut of their first album.
“It’s still not so common to be the leader of the pack in a rock band as a woman,” said lead vocalist and guitarist Ronja Kiminsky, “So little girls are always so fascinated when they see us perform live. I owe it to them to go on stage and kick as much ass as I can so they know they can do it too.”
Ronja takes this philosophy one step further; teaching guitar to children, intent onpriming the next generation of shred-heads while she defines her own.
However, the rock scene is not devoid of females vocalists ready to rock your socks off, and not every one needs to be viewed as the bastard granddaughter of Janis Joplin or Grace Slick – Indeed comparisons can be found a lot closer to home for Kiminsky in the form of Inga Rumpf, still proclaimed as the “greatest individual vocal talent” of the contemporary German rock scene, having fronted progressive hard rock band Frumpy since the 70s, The City Preachers before that, alongside an ongoing solo career to this day.
Kiminsky’s vocal style is not too far removed from Rumpf’s with something of a Siouxsie Sioux Gothic intonation in places.
That can be picked up both in the track ‘Bait’ and the EP’s focus single ‘Rainmaker’ – As the latter is Inspired by Kiminsky’s adoration for street performers growing up, the video showcases them giving a platform to society’s often overlooked entertainers. These visuals intended to juxtapose a relentless and infectious dark sound that doesn’t let go.
The Pinpricks is a power trio, rounded out by Nil Degendhardt on bass and Rico Kobarg on drums.Between them, the band crafts a soundscape defined by riffs equal parts technically proficient and unapologetically punk, with hard percussion that beats like it’s restarting a heart, all tied together by cutting guitar and wailing vocals.
The Pinpricks have rocked stages across Open Flair Festival, Stemweder Open Air, and Wilwarin Festival, and having played alongside Thundermother, Capsula, and The Brew UK. To date, the band has been placed in more than 800 playlists worldwide(including Spotify’s Editorial Rock Rotation playlist), has 11.5k monthly listeners, and been praised by assorted rock publications.
The Pinprick’s full album debuts later this year and the Rituals EP is available now on all digital platforms now – In the meantime, check out their official videos here at RAMzine.
