Review by: Justin Fisher
November 18, 2024
After 2023's Zig, and collaborations with Knocked Loose ('Suffocate') and Bad Omens ('V.A.N.'), Poppy teamed up with Jordan Fish to hone in on a new era; the duo produce a variety-packed collection of songs, sonically exploring everything from metalcore, power pop and electronic music. While not her angriest album, one commonality that the entirety of 'Negative Spaces' has is a heavy energy thanks in part to Fish's experience in production and performing for Bring Me The Horizon
Starting off the album, you're thrown into a pair of Eternal Blue [Spiritbox]-type songs, with the dark lyrical themes of both 'have you had enough?' and 'the cost of giving up' contrasting well with the upbeat nature of the instrumentals, as well as the atmospheric, alternative metal vibe to the production.
'they're all around us' is the final song of the three before the album's attitude and tonality changes sonically. Released as the "heaviest" single from the album, Poppy gets very angry here, writing about fake people and cowards. This track and many others on the record were co-written by Stephen Harrison of FEVER 333/Cancer Bats/The Chariot - djenty, chaotic guitars and Knocked Loose-type lyrics/callouts are aplenty on this track, making it a huge highlight for any of the heavy music fans looking to get into Poppy.
We get into poppier territory with the next handful of tracks, starting with another single from the album 'crystallized'. Preceded by the album's first interlude/transitional track 'yesterday', 'crystallized' explores the topic of love after heartache, growing and being hopeful. Whether it's the retro pop drum beat and synth bass line, the reference to '90s alt metal band Kittie or even the reference to an old Poppy song 'adored', it's clear that this track is looking to provoke a sense of nostalgia.
'vital' and 'push go' are two power pop anthems with huge hooks, on the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of lyrical content. While 'vital' deals with denial, and much of what is seen on 'crystallized', 'push go' is a fun, uplifting song, potentially a callback to 'Am I A Girl?'-era Poppy.
We get more heavy tracks right after that, with 'nothing' and 'the center's falling out' contrasting well in both their differences and similarities. While 'nothing' retains a heavy riff in the verse and a more melodic hook, 'the center's falling out' is one of the heaviest things Poppy has ever done, building on what she was doing on 'I Disagree' back in 2020 and adding experimental and breakcore elements to a riff-filled track, backed by blazing fast drums and a huge breakdown near the back end of the track.
'Negative spaces' pays tribute to grunge and alternative heroes such as Veruca Salt, Liz Phair and Hole, with loud guitars in the verse and an earworm of a chorus. It's unique enough that it doesn't sound like anything she has done before, but it works well enough on the album, especially with the tracks it precedes.
'surviving on defiance' serves as a diverse retrospective of the rest of the album between the heavy guitar chords and trap-influenced drums in the verse. 'new way out' plays and builds on that theme, delivering more attitude however with an industrial backing in the verses, topped with an optimistic hook comparable to something produced by Beartooth or I Prevail.
The new Poppy experience ends with 'halo', an appropriate name for a surreal-sounding track. Beginning with a dirty and detuned glockenspiel melody, we shift into a layer-filled verse that builds into a CHVRCHES-esque hook. This intensifies into an even more robust version of the chorus later on that does not let up, sending the album off with a loud, anthemic goodbye.
Poppy's sixth studio album, 'Negative Spaces,' is a proper reinvention of an artistic genius who is always willing to experiment and constantly outdoing herself. With the masterminded leadership of Poppy and the creative direction of collaborators/writers Jordan Fish and Stephen Harrison, she exceeded expectations. She produced an album that both her heavy music and pop fans will love.
This album gets a 4.5/5, with the only downside being slightly awkward pacing through transitions that can make it sound more like a compilation album instead of an ordered setlist.
Congratulations to Poppy and Bad Omens for winning the 2024 Rock Sound Award for Song of The Year for their collaboration on 'V.A.N.', off of Bad Omens' latest release 'CONCRETE JUNGLE - THE OST'.
If you enjoyed this album, also check out these releases:
Static by Alexis Munroe (EP, 2023)
EVERGREEN by PVRIS (album, 2023)
Suckerpunch by Maggie Lindemann (album, 2022)
PARANOIA by Maggie Lindemann (EP, 2021)
KISSING DEATH by MOTHICA (album, 2024)
I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M DEAD by Hot Milk (EP, 2021)
The Fear of Fear by Spiritbox (EP, 2023)
You Won't Go Before You're Supposed to Go by Knocked Loose (album, 2024)
CONCRETE JUNGLE - THE OST by Bad Omens (album, 2024)
YOU by Grumble Bee (single, 2024)
Find more of Justin Fishers' work at Suburban Home UMFM 101.5, Your home for everything melodic punk and emo, with a sprinkle of whatever mixed in. Wednesday, 1:00pm–2:00pm.
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