These Killing Times

Description

« These Killing Times » by Emma Ruth Rundle is an electrifying, poignant album infused with anti-patriarchal feminist rage. The sixth studio album by this multi-instrumentalist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist, it presents itself as a reactive, vibrant anthology, full of life and resistance. It questions us about our intentions, the role we play within our communities, and how we choose to counter the grip of capitalism. Sleepless nights, moments of horror, and periods of anxiety could overlap with the timeline of recent socio-political events to trace the genesis of « These Killing Times »: the rise of Christian nationalism, the grotesque circus of political discourse, and the existential malaise that ensues. But love is also present, as a balm and a remedy, an escape. This desire for camaraderie and connection, in the face of humanity's most extreme violence, remains a latent tension. Composed while she observed from afar the devastating effects of a new climate disaster in early 2025, this work was born from Emma's reflection on the roots of the systemic problems behind so many catastrophic global events. She made the deliberate choice to create an album that carries hope. Where external forces pushed her to retreat into herself, towards isolation and despair, she instead turned to others to create an album that, while acknowledging suffering, offers a message of solidarity and resilience.