The Mysterines – ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ album review: an anthemic and expansive triumph
THE SKINNY: It doesn’t feel like there is another rock act in the UK that can do it all in the way The Mysterines can. On their standout 2022 debut Reeling, they showcased their potential with a series of huge, anthemic rock tracks. Now two years on, having matured over a series of tours, including a stadium run with Arctic Monkeys, Afraid Of Tomorrows proves their power.
So much of that power lies on the shoulders of Lia Metcalfe, the band’s lead singer, who has one of, if not the most, incredible voice in modern rock right now. Across the album, she moves between intimate whispers and seductive, near-spoken-word moments into all-out growls and belts so powerful they blow her competition out of the water. On singles like ‘Stray’ or ‘Sink Ya Teeth’ she more than displays that she can, and should be, a new leader with vocals that deserve to become as iconic and representative of rock as the likes of Joan Jett or Karen O.
But they don’t rest on the laurel of having a great vocalist. The entire outfit feels like a collection of musicians working at their very best. Drummer Paul Crilly holds them down with some huge percussion that is still scattered with moments of intrigue and captivating flare. Lead guitarist Callum Thompson does the same, able to move between anthemic hooks that have proven their stadium scale already and more interesting details. George Favager’s basslines keep them grounded, too, but the spotlight regularly falls onto him as his sound cuts through amidst big instrumental moments. And then there’s Metcalfe again, delivering poetic lyrics full of spiralling stories, literary nods and vantage points that feel utterly unique and wholly born out of her specific frames of reference.
Whereas some albums feel like loose tracks thrown around a selection of singles, The Mysterines deliver quality from start to finish. The entirety of Afraid Of Tomorrow is a skip-free journey across the various corners of rock music. From blues or country-themed rock on ‘Junkyard Angel’, to the expansive, progressive nature of ‘The Last Dance’, the band picks at the threads of the genre and weaves it into something more interesting and fully their own. In that way, they feel peerless as no other up-and-coming act seems able to hold a candle to their quality or has a sound quite as instantly recognisable as their own.
It’s an album perfectly done and expertly coloured with bold, heavy highs and necessary moments of introspective quiet. Even the record’s simplest, most balladic track, ‘So Long’, stands out as a clear highlight. Or on ‘Hawkmoon’, a song that begins as a kind of field-recorded interlude quickly bursts open into their most cinematic and soaring piece to date. Still, with plenty of plain and simple rock hits, the album proves that the band won’t ever be boxed in. Even though they could more than get by and thrive on delivering anthems only, The Mysterines’ sophomore attempt does that and so, so much more.
For fans of: The anthemic David Bowie ‘Cat People’ scene in Inglorious Basterds.
A concluding comment from my tailor: “Those leather chaps you ordered are ready for collection.”
Afraid Of Tomorrows track by track:
Release date: 21st June 2024 | Producer: John Congleton | Label: Universal
‘The Last Dance’: The Mysterines waste no time diving into the album as they open with one of the most expansive and epic tales on the record, spiralling from an anthemic rock song into a haunt, whispered end. [4.5/5]
‘Stray’: As the first single shared for their sophomore effort, ‘Stray’ promised big things that have been more than delivered. Taking their anthemic abilities from their debut and levelling it all up, Lia Metcalfe’s voice sounds better than ever. [4.5/5]
‘Another Another Another’: The power of this album comes in its ability to mix things up. As a softer, more seductive track, ‘Another Another Another’ proves that the band aren’t one-trick-ponies. [3.5/5]
‘Tired Animals’: The band’s instrumentals on this album are so dynamic and interesting, with each out creating a perfect atmospheric nest for Metcalfe’s poetry to exist in. Here, it’s moody and cinematic. [4/5]
‘Jesse You’re A Superstar’: Metcalfe’s voice dances between all-out, belting rock glory and seductive, whispering intimacy over and over across the album, but on ‘Jesse You’re A Superstar’ as it’s stripped back to simplicity, the stunning tone of her voice can really shine. [4/5]
‘Hawkmoon’: Even the band’s take on a somewhat interlude is something special. ‘Hawkmoon’ is an almost painfully intimate track as it starts up, built out of poetic lyrics and personal voicemails. Then, as the guitar kicks in, it’s blown up into something cinematic and huge. [4.5/5]
‘Sink Ya Teeth’: Returning to out-right rock anthem status, ‘Sink Ya Teeth’ is one of the band’s most upbeat and fun tracks to date, sure to get crowds moving at their live shows. [4/5]
‘Junkyard Angel’: “If I tell you that I love ya, I am lying,” Metcalfe delivers straight on this bluesy track, continuing the band’s expansive tour of all corners, sounds and styles of rock music. [4/5]
‘Goodbye Sunshine’: By this point in the album, the fact that Lia Metcalfe has one of the best voices in modern rock music feels undisputed. But the entire band sounds perfected and huge, with incredible drums from Paul Crilly and powerful lead guitar from Callum Thompson, all mixed in with elevated production details. [4/5]
‘Inside A Matchbox’: Things switch up once more as acoustic guitars lead the way into this track that delivers Radiohead-levels of cinematic, strange storytelling. Even on their softer songs, they keep you gripped, and as the drums float on in the final third, the grip is tighter than ever. [4/5]
‘So Long’: Similar to the balladic beauty of ‘Still Call You Home’ on their debut, ‘So Long’ is a moment of genuine, simple and tender emotion as the whole band strips back to nothing but pure feeling. It proves they don’t need all the bells and whistles to be impactful – the raw talent will see them through. [4.5/5]
‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’: As their final remarks and the album’s title track, ‘Afraid Of Tomorrows’ feels like it could be a rock standard, cutting through with a totally timeless edge. [4/5]
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