New Metal
Sumerian Records
21st,Release Date – November 21st 2025
Review By Smudge Smith
I can’t relate much to The Pretty Wild. All I know is that sisters Jules and Jyl are the singers, and they really don’t have any boundaries when it comes to making music. They say that this, their debut album, is centred around collapse and resurrection and diving back into the metaphysical realm of feminism and claiming back their power. Judging by the music on offer, they aren’t messing around!
Opener and current single ‘Paradox’ is a perfect illustration of them claiming back that power. Jeez, the opening is raw and powerful and leaves you in no doubt. Then they go from cutesy pop princess back to the devil’s little sister before some clean vocals and some rap, all in one verse and a half, all backed by a huge metallic soundtrack. The title track comes like some folk/death metal with a creepy fiddle and some more powerful clean vocals. This is huge! A big bad bass and some squally synths bring ‘Living Ded’ before it settles into a dancy groove and some understated vocals before the chorus, and the sisters open up on some glorious dual harmonies. ‘Button Eyes’ is pure power-pop and perfect for radio, then ‘Priestess’ returns to the gnarly death metal.
I played this as the kids came trick-or-treating, and it scared the living shit out of them!! ‘Omens’ starts with some power metal, then steps back into some more melodic power pop, then returns to the death growl. ‘The Trial’ has an odd country feel before sliding seamlessly into another death metal passage, and they’re off again with some more wonderful harmonies. ‘hALf aLiVE’ (that’s how it’s spelt on the sleeve) brings some alt/grunge and a different side of their voices. ‘AFTERLIFE’ (again, how it’s shown on the sleeve) comes across as a bit of modern R&B with Magnolia Park helping out. (No, me neither). Poppy synths introduce ‘Infrared’, and we’re away on some more dance metal before the smooth and gentle ‘Persephone’ gives a lump in your throat. It’s stark, dark and builds to a powerful deathy crescendo. My stream has a bonus cut – ‘sLeepwALKeR’, which is another that gives us the clean growl thing again.
This really is not my thing. However, I found myself playing this non-stop for a couple of days. The sounds are enormous, and there is always something else I discover on each play. It’s thoroughly modern, and as I said previously, there are no boundaries; Jules and Jyl will stick what they want in the song. Fair play to producer Andrew Wade and the musicians used because they have produced a masterpiece.
Track List –
Paradox
Zero.Point.Genesis
Living Dead
Burron Eyes
Priestess
Omens
The Trial
hALf aLiVE
AFTERLIFE (featuring Magnolia Park)
Infrared
Persephone
SLeepwALKeR (Bonus track)
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