“Everything ends. But nothing disappears.”
Indie Rock / Soft Riot Pop from Cologne–Düsseldorf
kamikaze, the duo of Jessi (vocals, guitar) and Flo (guitar), has just released their debut album, “The End” —a work born from chaos, self-management, and an unwavering refusal to surrender.
Released on June 19, 2026, in cassette and digital formats, the record is the culmination of a fully independent path since their formation in 2017 between Cologne and Düsseldorf: recordings made on analog equipment, music videos shot on vintage camcorders, cassette-only releases, and no record label involvement.
Rejecting trends, kamikaze has forged its own genre: “Soft Riot Pop” —a creative tension between bittersweet melodies and dynamic rhythms, sometimes energetic, sometimes introspective; bright pop guitars clashing with dark synthesizers; fragility and noise coexisting in perfect balance.
As Start Track puts it:
“Undeniably pop, yet incredibly artistic and highly stylized, with shades of Lush, X-Ray Spex, and Alvvays.”
And NENESBUTLER adds:
“What truly matters is how Jessi and Flo transform vulnerability into a source of strength—without romanticizing it.”
The End ~ An album built through community
kamikaze’s growing international recognition was cemented by their performance at Manchester Popfest 2026, sharing the stage with Gina Birch (The Raincoats), Trash Kit, and The Cords. For a band deeply rooted in British indie pop tradition, this step felt inevitable.
Each song on “The End” explores a different facet of a single truth: everything ends, but nothing vanishes completely.
- “Dreamland” portrays mental exhaustion
- “Hell” challenges externally imposed moral control
- “Drown” surrenders silently to another
The album opens with “Revenge Dress”, inspired by one of Princess Diana’s most iconic public appearances, immediately setting the tone: self-determination as an act of resistance. It’s followed by “X Me Out”, a Riot Grrrl anthem celebrating connection and solidarity among FLINTA* artists—a core force behind the album’s creation.
It closes with “Camp Funtime” and the phrase “No more fun”: a farewell among many. As Jessi explains:
“It’s not just about the end of life, but also the countless small goodbyes: to relationships, dreams, shame, and carefreeness.”
The cover art—an eye shedding tears while looking forward—perfectly captures the album’s spirit: pain and hope, without irony or artifice.
Past milestones include two sold-out EPs, support slots for Death Valley Girls (2024) and The Exbats (2023), and a live session for Orange ‘Ear (2018).
The End ~ kamikaze ~ Indie Valley Music Review
“The End” is more than an album—it’s a sonic manifesto. Born from a true DIY ethos—self-managed, label-free, uncompromising—kamikaze redefines what “indie” means in 2026. Far from commercial formulas, Jessi and Flo craft an intimate universe where Soft Riot Pop thrives as a living amalgam: jangle pop, post-punk, dream pop, and bedroom pop intertwine naturally, without pretense.
Spanning 9 tracks and 33 minutes, the album is accessible without being simplistic, emotional without sentimentality, and rebellious without losing grace. Each song is a poetic fragment, rich in existential metaphors and messages that invite reflection. This is music for discerning listeners—and for anyone seeking honesty in sound.
Revenge Dress ~ (130 BPM, D minor, 3:33)
The track opens with an electric guitar drenched in chorus, subtly distorted and wrapped in reverb, evoking a cold, dark, unsettling atmosphere. At 0:15, the drums enter with a crescendo on snare and tom, building tension until, at 0:29, a firm, organic post-punk rhythm erupts. The drums—expertly panned in stereo—deliver a wide, creamy, three-dimensional sound, with punchy snare hits and a round, resonant kick that anchors the pulse without overwhelming.
The bass, minimalist yet present, adds depth and solidity, while a second guitar—nearly clean, with light distortion and reverb—weaves a melodic dialogue with the vocals.
At 0:44, Jessi enters: her voice, slightly above the instrumental mix, oscillates between softness and intensity, conveying an exquisite emotional duality—sometimes vibrant, sometimes nostalgic. Subtle reverb grants it spatiality, reinforcing the contemplative mood.
At 1:15, a new verse section introduces a subtle melodic shift, followed by an instrumental interlude (1:29) featuring an ethereal synth and “satellite interference” sounds—as if a signal is struggling to connect—adding conceptual and sensory layers.
After the rhythm returns (2:06), the chorus bursts in at 2:20: melodic, nostalgic, with a hook that lingers in memory. The song closes with its signature arpeggio, leaving a sense of uncertainty… yet also a faint glimmer of hope.
You See Problems I See Nothing ~ (109 BPM, E minor, 2:36)
It begins with rhythmic stick taps, before all instruments crash in unison. The drums—dream/jangle pop in character—sound creamy and catchy; the bass is crisp and stereo-panned; the guitars—one rhythmic with chorus, the other dynamic with arpeggios—evoke 2000s indie rock, but with modern, direct production.
Jessi’s voice enters at 0:11, melodic and infectious, flowing in perfect symbiosis with the instrumentation. The chorus (0:46) masterfully breaks the melody, adding dynamism without sacrificing harmony.
At 1:00, everything stops—but silence never arrives: only lingering reverb, before a cymbal crash signals the return. The narrative resumes at 1:12, and a second, more intense chorus lands at 1:48.
After a brief atmospheric pause (2:02), energy surges at 2:15: new verses with chorus-like urgency, leading to a garage-punk climax at 2:23, where the drums accelerate with contained fury. The track ends abruptly at 2:33, leaving only reverberation that fades into silence by 2:36—like an emotional echo.
From a technical standpoint, “The End” features excellent musical production with meticulous attention to detail, along with high-quality mixing and mastering that deliver a sound that is deep, crisp, immersive, and comforting—perfectly suited for listening on any playback system.
“The End” is, at its core, a manifesto of emotional resilience, crafted with integrity, community, and artistic vision. It doesn’t seek to please—it seeks to resonate.
It’s a great honor for us to present this new release, the album “The End” by kamikaze. Go listen to it in full on your favorite streaming platform.
“The End” by kamikaze is now available on all digital platforms and on cassette
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