Bat Fangs
American rock duo blending glam rock and power pop.
Bat Fangs is an American rock duo made up of guitarist and vocalist Betsy Wright and drummer Laura King, who formed the group in 2016. The band splits its time between Washington, D.C., and Carrboro, North Carolina, and its sound is built around guitar-heavy music that pulls from glam rock and power pop. Both of their albums—the self-titled *Bat Fangs* (2018) and *Queen of My World* (2021)—came out on Don Giovanni Records.
Wright started writing songs that leaned toward arena rock and 1980s pop metal after touring with Ex Hex in support of their 2014 album *Rips*, finding that material didn’t fit that band’s style. She reached out to Laura King, a drummer from North Carolina she’d met on tour; King had played in Flesh Wounds and in Mac McCaughan’s backing band the Non-Believers. Wright sent King demos, and in late 2015 they met in North Carolina to rehearse and cut a two-song demo with engineer Charles Chase. Over the next several months, they kept writing and recording, fueled by a shared love of hair metal, classic rock, and 1980s pop. Their debut album was recorded in January 2017 with Mike Montgomery of the band R. Ring at his Kentucky studio. Released on February 2, 2018, *Bat Fangs* was mostly recorded live to tape with few overdubs, packing nine songs into under 30 minutes. Critics noted its blend of glam rock, metal, and power pop, with touches of garage rock and occult imagery.
The duo’s second album, *Queen of My World*, came out in 2021 on Don Giovanni Records. It earned positive reviews, including a 7.5 out of 10 from Pitchfork, which praised its use of hair-metal and late-1980s rock sounds while sidestepping the genre’s excesses.
The band’s lineup has remained the same since forming: Betsy Wright on guitar and vocals, and Laura King on drums.
- formed
- 2016
- origin
- Washington, D.C., and Carrboro, North Carolina
- genre
- Glam rock, power pop
- members
- Betsy Wright (guitar, vocals), Laura King (drums)
- label
- Don Giovanni Records
Lore & Background
After touring with Ex Hex for their 2014 album Rips, Wright began writing songs influenced by arena rock and 1980s pop metal that did not fit Ex Hex's sound. She contacted North Carolina drummer Laura King, whom she had met through touring; King had played in Flesh Wounds and in Mac McCaughan's backing band the Non-Believers. Wright sent King demos and traveled to North Carolina in late 2015 to rehearse and record a two-song demo with engineer Charles Chase. The pair continued writing and recording over the following months, drawing on their shared interest in hair metal, classic rock, and 1980s pop. They recorded their self-titled debut album in January 2017 with Mike Montgomery of the band R. Ring at his studio in Kentucky.
Bat Fangs was released on February 2, 2018. Recorded largely live to tape with minimal overdubs, the album features nine songs in under half an hour. Critics described the record as blending glam rock, metal, and power pop with elements of garage rock and occult-themed imagery. Bat Fangs' second album, Queen of My World, was released in 2021 by Don Giovanni Records. The album received positive reviews, with Pitchfork awarding it a score of 7.5 out of 10 and noting its use of hair-metal and late-1980s rock motifs while avoiding the genre's excesses.
Reader's Guide
Bat Fangs represents a focused revival of glam rock and power pop in the 2010s and 2020s, drawing on arena rock, hair metal, and 1980s pop. Their debut album, recorded live to tape with minimal overdubs, captured a raw energy that critics noted blended garage rock and occult imagery. The duo's second album, Queen of My World, received critical attention for its use of late-1980s rock motifs while sidestepping the excesses of that era. Both albums were released on Don Giovanni Records, a label associated with independent rock. The band's significance lies in their distillation of classic rock influences into a concise, guitar-driven sound, and their ability to update glam rock for a contemporary audience without losing its core appeal. Their work continues the lineage of American rock duos while maintaining a distinct identity rooted in the members' prior experiences in Ex Hex, Flesh Wounds, and other projects.
Did You Know?
- Bat Fangs was formed in 2016 by Betsy Wright and Laura King.
- Their debut album was recorded in January 2017 with Mike Montgomery at his studio in Kentucky.
- The duo's second album, Queen of My World, received a 7.5 out of 10 from Pitchfork.
- Both of their studio albums were released on Don Giovanni Records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bat Fangs?
Bat Fangs is an American rock duo that formed in 2016, pairing guitarist and vocalist Betsy Wright with drummer Laura King. The pair splits their time between Washington, D.C., and Carrboro, North Carolina.
What genre does Bat Fangs play?
The duo builds its sound around guitar-heavy arrangements that blend glam rock with power pop, giving their material a flashy, melodic edge.
What albums has Bat Fangs released?
They have put out two full-length records: the self-titled *Bat Fangs* (2018) and *Queen of My World* (2021), both issued through Don Giovanni Records.
Who are the members of Bat Fangs and what do they play?
Betsy Wright handles guitar and lead vocals, while Laura King is behind the drum kit. The two met and started writing together after Wright's touring work with Ex Hex inspired a new direction for her songwriting.
What record label is Bat Fangs signed to?
Both of the duo's albums to date have been released on Don Giovanni Records, which serves as their sole label home.
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