Let’s get this picture: three bandmates for years enter a studio, and out comes a monster. And hey, don’t get me wrong, we HONESTLY wouldn’t have it any other way!
TAHM drops new single, “Little Devil,” which is not just a song; it’s a snarling, flirtatious jolt of adrenaline that will remind you why guitars were ever created in the first place. This British alt-rock outfit of Katie Palmer, Ian Palmer, and Paul Hodgson might have started life back in the mid-90s, but believe us: their bite has not lost its edge one whit. If anything, it’s sharpened.
From its first warped riff, “Little Devil” bursts forth from your speakers like an unshackled demon hell-razing an alleyway in Seattle in the year of our Lord 1992, yet its polish and punch are sufficient to place it comfortably within a 2025 indie rock playlist. It is an electric cocktail of equal parts rage snarl, pop hook, and exorcism of gravity, shaken, not stirred, and served with a wink by the devil himself.
And that name? Doesn’t mislead you.
This little demon isn’t just a figure of speech; it’s the hounding shadow in poisonous relationships, the murmuring voice that makes your sanctuary a battleground. And here’s the twist: TAHM don’t wallow. They take it back. This song isn’t about victimhood, it’s about setting fire to something and dancing in the embers.
The Vocals That Strike Where It Counts (In the Best Possible Way)
Let’s discuss Katie Palmer, shall we? Her vocals are nothing less than a revelation. Fierce and fragile in equal measure, Katie navigates the frenetic ride with aplomb, serving up verses that seethe and choruses that positively detonate. There’s a moment, just as the hook explodes in, when her voice swells to a full-on, incandescent belt that will leave shivers in its trail.
She doesn’t merely sing of chaos. She demands it.
She lures you in for a second with a gentle, nearly taunting whisper, and then she unleashes like someone with no more patience. It’s the kind of performance that drags you into the words, even if you haven’t battled a personal “little devil.” (Spoiler alert: chances are, you have.)
Production That Feels Like a Controlled Burn
Ian Palmer deserves serious credit for the production on this. Everything sounds close, real, and just dangerous enough. The drums crash like warning shots, the guitars snarl and grind, and the bassline slinks underneath it all like a secret waiting to get out. It’s not loud — it’s alive.
But what’s more remarkable is the room the track leaves itself. This isn’t a cacophony of sound, it’s a well-constructed pressure cooker. There’s room to breathe in these verses. There’s an explosion in these choruses. There’s tension and release, ebb and flow, the kind of deliberate arrangement you only find when a band has been at this long enough to quit showing off and learn to feel it.
Nostalgia Meets Now
Yes, there are flashes of the classics, imagine Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins, perhaps a hint of Paramore in their sulkiest moments, but “Little Devil” never stinks of retro. It tastes of bridge. It’s a track that pays homage to its ’90s heritage while firmly wedging both boots in today.
It would have been an instant hit during those flannel-dominated MTV days, but it also has its place on today’s playlist alongside Wolf Alice, Royal Blood, or even Billie Eilish, should she ever find herself digging out an amp and getting a little aggressive.
The Hook? Oh, It Hooks.
Now, about that chorus. Oh boy. This is one of those choruses that gets stuck in your head the best way. It’s the type of hook you find yourself muttering under the shower, singing softly to yourself in the car, or belting at mid-existential crisis. And isn’t that what really good songs do? They catch up with you, and they linger.
Final Verdict: TAHM Are Just Getting Started (Again)
“Little Devil” is a comeback single, and then some; it’s a statement. TAHM are back, not only relevant, but they’ve reignited. This is the sound of a band that’s lived a little, lost a little, and decided to put it all into music that slaps you in the face and gives you a peck on the forehead afterwards.
It’s for anyone who’s ever been trapped in a cycle, sick of all the drama, and ready to fight fire with fire. TAHM’s little devil may be born of chaos, but it’s on a mission: to wake you up, shake you down, and ignite your soul.
One track in, and we’re already pleading for more. Come on, TAHM, don’t leave us hanging.
