top of page
Search

Portsmouth, UK based four piece Noise Factory United release new single.

  • Writer: Richard Blowes
    Richard Blowes
  • Oct 20
  • 2 min read

Ahead of debut EP Visions From The Frontier, Noise Factory United release their new single The Quickest Blade in the West.

Track: The Quickest Blade in the West

Band: Noise Factory United

Released: October 17 2025


Artwork for new single Quickest blade in the west by Portsmouth band Noise Factory United

This track might be the closest answer yet to the hypothetical question 'what is Blowtorch Records all about"? It references Olympe de Gouges, the revolutionary proto-feminist who asked, “Homme, es-tu capable d’être juste?” (Man, can you be just?) in her 1791 Declaration of the rights of woman and the citizen. And it is by a band called Noise Factory United who declare themselves "Portsmouth peddlers of apocalypse anxiety with a gnarly trill of guitar and synth". It's like our mission statement.


Their third single release in 2025 after Fractures and Ladyhammer, The Quickest Blade In The West opens (and closes) with a guitar line reminiscent of The Man Who Sold The World. Which is appropriate as the track has some of the cool eeriness and experimentation of Bowie's late 70s albums.



There is a strong eighties post punk/electronica feel to the track bringing to minds bands as diverse as The Human League, Visage and Wire. What stands out initially is the slightly wobbly arpeggiated synth which immediately sets up a feeling of unease and dysfunction, soundtracking your paranoia in monochrome. Rather than the Cold War and threat of nuclear extinction in the 80s, this is now fuelled by billionaires aiding and abetting far right takeovers, surveillance technology and toxic hysteria around being kind to your fellow humans.


The lyrics tap into the uneasy feeling on the edge between control and lawlessness. The wild West was originally about expansion - now it's all about insulating frontiers, protectionism and mistrust. Post truth disinformation designed to keep us in our place.


the release comes as the synths swell and the bass foregrounds in a moment of melodic bliss right out of Magazine's Dave Formula/Barry Adamson playbook. Pure magic.

If this all sounds rather depressing, the chorus arrives to sweeten matters. As it moves from "the quickest blade in the west" into the "tell me tell" me refrain, the release comes as the synths swell and the bass foregrounds in a moment of melodic bliss right out of Magazine's Dave Formula/Barry Adamson playbook. Pure magic. Big shout out also for the excellent backing vocals. We'll be keeping any eye on this band for sure.


Portsmouth band Noise Factory United as they release new single Quickest blade in the west

Noise Factory United hail from Portsmouth on the South Coast of England. They are currently putting the final touches to their debut EP Visions From The Frontier which is due out in early 2026.


NFU are from left to right: Zena Ide synths/vocals, Scott Soo vocals/guitar, Will Pearce bass/vocals, and Marc Stone drums.



Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and never miss out on gig info and our latest deals




Comments

bottom of page