Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (digital outlets)

Anyone new to this industrial strength, electro-techno Californian – with reference points in Trent Reznor, Bauhaus and recent Gary Numan – might note previous albums included Pain is Beauty, Abyss and Birth of Violence.

Those titles read like consumer warnings, albums only to be approached by frontline members of the armed forces. Wolfe's background speaks of longtime drinking, sleep deprivation, doom metal, anarcho-punk and a collaboration with a friend as Mrs. Piss whose 2020 album was Self-Surgery.

Keen yet?

This seventh album under her own name launches off two thunderously gloomy tracks, but after the electrostatic eruption and insidious vocals of Whispers in the Echo Chamber (“this world was not designed for us”) and urgent clatter of House of Self-Undoing where a dream-Goth vocal floats above the staccato rhythms, Everything Turns Blue and Tunnel Lights pivot the mood into thoughtful, dark and melodic pop despite intrusions of gravelly electronics.

The intelligent layering of sonic effects means rather than relentlessly bludgeoning despondency, what emerges is dynamic, if demanding, theatrical art-rock and left-field pop (Eyes Like Nightshade). This is often more quiet and atmospheric than oppressive.

Start three songs in, hold the guard rail tight, She Reaches Out is quite a ride.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here