ALBUM REVIEW: This Is Doom Trap – Mimi Barks

MIMI BARKS‘ debut album This Is Doom Trap is a follow-up to her critically-acclaimed 2022 mixtape Deadgirl. Hailing from Berlin, Germany but now based in London, she’s built a name for herself by combining her rap and metal skills and has gained an ever-growing fanbase who have eagerly been awaiting her debut album. Now it’s released, Barks is ready to take over the world.

Opener FSU (short for Fuck Shit Up) lures you in gently with Barks‘ siren-like voice before the trap beat comes in. Throughout the song there are rare moments of calm singing mixed in with the metal screams. Debut albums can be nerve-wracking to release because a musician is introducing themselves to the world – many fall into one of two categories: either they are where a musician peaks or it proves that the musician needs a bit more work. And if anything there is an even bigger expectation on artists who pioneer genres as they have a lot weighing on their shoulders.

Thankfully, Barks makes balancing trap and metal look easy. Whilst the album does fall into a formula with a trap-influenced song, followed by a metal-influenced song, followed by a song combining the two genres, this doesn’t cause it any harm. In fact, it gives the record a structure that makes it easy to listen to. By allowing the two genres enough songs to make an impact, This Is Doom Trap does not fall into the trap – no pun intended – of devolving into one endless song.

Whether it is the bilingual trap song Montana, which features a brilliant guest spot from Yeti Bones of American punk duo HO99O9, or the guitar-driven trap-metal of Faded, there is something for everyone on this brilliant debut. Pacing-wise, although a lot of the songs are fast, some are slower, such as the penultimate track Final Destination/Death Without Satisfaction, which showcases the best of Barks‘ singing voice as she sings a confessional song over a chill electronic beat.

However, it doesn’t slow down the album’s pacing. In fact, it again shows how versatile Barks can be. Closing song Insomniac has a laid-back instrumental with a fantastic mixture of singing and screams, with a bit of rapping thrown in. It is a drastic difference from the fast-paced opener, but it also represents the end of the journey that we’ve been on. Lyrically, the album is raw and confessional, which is admirable for a debut. A lot of musicians would try to be as vague as possible, but not Barks. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and the lyrics are heart-breaking but honest.

Overall, This Is Doom Trap is a fantastic debut album. MIMI BARKS proves that she is one of the most exciting new artists on the scene, expertly blending trap and metal music to create her own genre. This is a rare example of an artist who knows what her sound is, yet also leaves enough room for growth in the future. The lyrics are honest and raw, and the music that accompanies it is right for each song. Although it does follow a formula, this gives it structure and makes the album coherent. Furthermore, the pacing is brilliant and it isn’t too long or too short. This Is Doom Trap is one of the most inventive albums this year and MIMI BARKS is a name to watch.

Rating: 9/10

This Is Doom Trap is out now via Silent Cult Recordings.

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