Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, postpunk trio Pussy Heaven release dark, genre-shifting EP, HYMN.
Jittery guitar snarls and a fuzzed-out doomscape beat open ‘MILKSHAKE’, whose tone makes it clear that Pussy Heaven aren’t here to play games. Choral chanting, reminding us how fragile life truly is, is juxtaposed with an eerie, roaring melody that rushes in waves. This duality gives the track a tense and layered air of ceremony with a dire subtext. A song of inspiration and warning, ‘MILKSHAKE’ is a spell for punk hope.
‘ALFIE’ opens with a familiar fuzz that quickly blooms into a grungey, shoegaze dream. A track for wishing upon a star, this song feels like a new page being added to the darker shoegaze genre. With such a gritty and weighted soundscape balanced by the feather-soft vocals, ‘ALFIE’ drifts through with the convincing ache and fog of a daydream. A fresh take on the shoegaze sombre, Pussy Heaven delivers new vibes and higher standards.
‘GIZMO’ is a revolt through and through. Leaning into punk and doom roots once again, this track is the threat of the frenzy that looms at the fraying edges. Musically heavy and lyrically menacing, ‘GIZMO’ is the perfect song to thrash to.
HYMN is an impressive, quick dip into the musical skill of Pussy Heaven and a powerful display of how to evolve the sound of a genre. Complex and hard-hitting, HYMN has earned a spot on my forever goth playlist.
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