THE MYSTERINES - AFRAID OF TOMORROWS
photo credit: Sylas Agtarap
Afraid of Tomorrows, the latest album by The Mysterines, is a brave leap forward that shows off the bands growth and depth. Frontwoman Lia Metcalfe delivers an amazing performance, her raw lyrics diving into darker themes of guilt and paranoia; the album’s exploration of these complex emotions is encapsulated in its powerful lead single, ‘Stray’ - a track which is full of energy, setting the tone for what’s to come.
From the opening track, ‘The Last Dance’, the album seems to have an overarching ominous sound as Metcalfe’s vulnerable vocals and the bands thundering bass lines create an intense atmosphere. Amplified by whispered, haunting lyrics, the atmosphere only gets tenser as Metcalfe croons about loneliness. “You angel in a cage, shadow on the stage,” she croons with influences of the 90s and 2000s New York music scene apparent across the board. “Unholy kind of accident / I've heard they call this loneliness / I crave the world through your fingertips.”
With comparisons to Placebo, ‘Another, Another, Another’ stands out as a confident frontrunner whilst ‘Tired Animal’ builds tension with a slow, menacing groove. The acoustic-backed ‘Hawkmoon’ offers a moment of delicate lightness before breaking into an extreme instrumental, showcasing the bands dynamic range and ‘Sink Ya Teeth’ is an energetic, grungy dance break that captures the raw edge of The Mysterines' sound; all of the above make it easy to fall in love with the band.
Having tried their hand at every sub-genre within rock, Afraid Of Tomorrows benefits from a boost in confidence. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer John Congleton, the Liverpool quartets record feels like the sound of a band who are sure of themselves. They know that they’re here for the long-haul and they know exactly what they’re good at. ‘Junkyard Angel’ is the most mainstream rock song on the record with a throbbing rhythm meanwhile ‘Goodbye Sunshine’ sticks to that grungy sound classic rock fans all know and love, transporting them back to the emergence of the scene decades ago.
For a record this good, listeners will wish it was never ending as the band round it off with the melancholic yet optimistic tracks ‘So Long’ and ‘Afraid of Tomorrows’. The former featuring themes of forgiveness as Metcalfe comes to terms with the end of a relationship. “The hardest part was that it had to end,” she states, bringing the track to a close. “The hardest part was that it had to end.”
With a refined sound and deeper lyrical content, The Mysterines have delivered an album that is sure to raise roofs and captivate audiences in a live aspect. More personal and intimate than 2022’s Reeling, Afraid of Tomorrows remains rooted in the grunge influences that are central to The Mysterines’ identity. Not only does it demonstrate their readiness to push sonic boundaries, it also cements their status as a formidable force coming up through the ranks. The performances exhibited across the record are nothing short of sublime and if you all know what’s good for you, it’s an album you’ll put on repeat for days to come.
Cat Wiltshire
★★★★☆