HISS SPUN

It seems like 'Hiss Spun' might be the culmination of Chelsea Wolfe's doom-alternative phase; following several successful, well-received albums, the female rockstar's fifth studio effort stands as a dark celebration of alienation and addiction, an album where sludgy riffs and ominous soundscapes meet the soothing and sensual voice of the author as well as the cold and atmospheric electronic infusion of sounds and effects. The result is a very contemporary-sounding metal album that draws inspiration from doom, alternative and industrial, all swirled around in an anxious amalgamation of self-expression, experimentation and spirituality, and much like the rest of Wolfe's catalog, 'Hiss Spun' is incredibly ominous, drab and challenging.

And through the unconventional nature of her approach to heavy music, Wolfe dares to experiment with a variety of genres, moods and production techniques, elevating her brilliant songwriting to the heights of progressive, as this album stands as one of the most daring and avant-garde offerings. From the doomy mantra that is the opening track 'Spun' to the compelling manifestation of various emotions on '16 Psyche' and 'The Culling', this album dares to dig into the darker corners of its creator's mind. The heavy, distorted riffs and the wavy electronic patterns build up a gloomy collage of sounds that provides Chelsea Wolfe with an almost-abrasive sonic sheet over which she can experiment with her voice, which is equal amounts mesmerizing, soothing and sensual, and the contact zone between these contrasting forces of her music is a somewhat uncomfortable but always fascinating spot to find yourself in as a listener. 'Vex, 'Offering' and 'Static Hum', alongside the abovementioned songs, are particularly great examples of this, and not only that, but the entire album works really well as a whole, as it ebbs and flows nicely between heavy and beautiful, between light and dark - an excellent work with gothic undertones.