You need to listen to the scorching noise pop album Forever in Your Heart

There’s something irresistible about music that seems to come apart at the seams. the Black dresses They are masters of chaos that is barely contained. All of their records sound like they’re in danger of collapsing at any moment. But never have they so expertly woven the different threads of their sound — the masterful rhythms, the strumming guitars, the irresistible pop hooks — together as they do on Forever in your heart.

Canadian duo Ada Rook and Devi McCallion create something undeniably catchy out of abrasive electronics, metal beats, death metal screams, and off-key vocals. opening track”Peace sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!“It jumps out of the speakers with such ferocity that the riff basically stumbles over itself before settling into a gorgeous verse. When the riff returns, Davey shouts, ‘Can we make something hopelessly beautiful?’

Both Rock and Davey’s screams are explosive, but nowhere is that truer than in “Silver bellsMidway through the song, after a particularly melodic verse backed by Pretty Hate Machine-type synths, Rook tears up her vocal cords, delivering the lines:

I’m tired
I’m out of breath
I’m afraid of all the rest
I just want some kindness
But stress and despair
It’s all we ever get

The performance was so intense that Devi actually stepped in to make sure her friend was okay. It’s a moment of fun on an album that often sounds bleak. But it is also possible that this was due to genuine concern for Ada’s throat.

“Silver Bells” gives way to the falsetto mid-tempo ballad “Ragequitted” and the indie rocker “Waiting42morrow” provides a respite before the slow build of “Gone in an Instant” which culminates with more vocal skits from Rook.

Lyrically, the album is filled with feelings of isolation and self-loathing. People who “don’t remember she even existed in their lives” and Rock declares “I wish I was fake, so people would hate my fake persona.” Heavy subjects can seem clunky in less skilled hands. But the lyrics, which explore the pressures they face as trans women, are balanced with moments of hope. At the end of “Paradise” Rock finds beauty and recognizes that there is a way out of the darkness.

And all broken creatures are
Perfect as they are
But it’s easy to be disappointed
When you don’t know who you are

The album also ends on a vaguely positive note as Davey sings “I couldn’t keep it together, but it’s not that bad” at the end of the song’s almost powerful lyric.(I can’t) keep it together“.

The production throughout the record is impeccable as well. Musically, there’s rarely a dull moment. The drums hit hard enough to shake your spine even through headphones, dazzling synths dance in and out of the mix, and the guitars come to life in unexpected places. The chaos extends not only to the soundboard, but also to the actual song arrangements. Although there are clear hooks, The Black Dresses don’t seem particularly interested in standard song structures of verse, chorus, and verse.