Welsh dark alternative singer-songwriter Catherine Elms returns with Bring In The Wild, a captivating exploration of the shadow self, introversion, and emotional complexity.
Across 12 tracks, Elms invites listeners into a richly textured soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive, marking a confident evolution from her earlier work.
We get off to an enigmatic start with opener ‘The Darker Half’, where Catherine’s whispered and heavily effected vocals drift over brooding synths and percussion. It’s a departure from her previous style — deeper, more layered, and atmospherically immersive, setting the tone for an album that reads like a cinematic journey through the darker corners of the psyche.
The narrative throughout is bold and unflinching, weaving themes of self-exploration and shadow-side acceptance, with brilliant and often playful lyricism within the storytelling. Each song feels like a chapter in her story, pulling you in with tension and nuance.
Among the highlights, ‘Brutal Heart’ offers a surprisingly poppy, catchy, and infectious moment, proving Elms’ ability to blend accessibility with her trademark darkness.
In contrast, ‘Running In Place’ is tender and exposing, a raw emotional ballad that genuinely hits the feels — I was close to tears listening.
The standout track for me is ‘Ritual’, anchored by a killer riff and showcasing Catherine’s more developed sound. The song’s use of quartal harmonies adds pleasing complexity, perfectly capturing the album’s balance of shadow and light. And it’s a banger.
Catherine Elms channels influences like Kate Bush, Nick Cave, and Fiona Apple, but Bring In The Wild is unmistakably her own.
It’s dramatic and transcendent, with a fearless, feminist edge that embraces the untamed parts of ourselves that society often tells us to suppress.
In Bring In The Wild, Elms not only invites us to confront our own darkness but to bring it in, hold it, and find power in its depths.
This is dark alternative music that is maybe not for everyone (and these days who wants to blend in?), but for those ready to dive deep, it offers a richly rewarding, transformative experience.
Follow Catherine Elms on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Bandcamp