I know this band is maybe a little big-time for this site’s usual tastes. But! My site my rules. And this song rips:

The first time I head it back in February it’s been in heavy rotation. I quite literally can’t get enough of that song. It’s like an updated version of one of the bangers from the first Garbage record. Lia Metcalfe’s voice is unmistakable and perfectly suited to the anxiety and paranoia of the lyrics. Her voice, and the record, has range.

The Mysterines’ first LP, Reeling, was a strong debut, but it didn’t really grab me — it sounds like an attempt to bottle the magic of a live show, but one where the production didn’t quite capture what makes this artist unique. I wanted to love it, but I couldn’t quite get there.

Afraid of Tomorrows doesn’t have that problem. Since Stray came out, I’ve kind of been holding my breath for the inevitable song that tries hard and falls short. Hasn’t happened. The second single rips too, even when there are no drums:

And then this week came the final single The Last Dance, which feels a little artsier than the first two singles. This is the song that I’ve come back to throughout the first few days of the record’s release. This acoustic (ish) performance of it is spectacular:

The record has a lot more variety in style and pacing than I expected. There are a lot of slow-burners, and the band seems to be confident in trying to push the boundaries of their style. Songs like Hawkmoon and So Long are welcome, somewhat new territory for the band. This interview from Kerrang! today is a good one. Drummer Paul Crilly:

Hawkmoon just felt different, like it was the start of a new sound for us. If you listen to Reeling and then you listen to Hawkmoon, it’s worlds apart. Even down to the way Lia is singing, it was a conscious thing to explore Lia’s voice a little bit more. Naturally, you would want to overperform it, when actually, the best way of doing it is to keep it as raw and intimate as possible.

It’s a killer sound for the band, they’re coming to Toronto in September. Can’t wait to see ’em live.

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