ALBUM REVIEW: Mirror Mirror – Adharma
Singer Charlie Draper became increasingly frustrated that there were a distinct lack of female issues being addressed within the modern metal scene. As a result of this ADHARMA was born. Drawing on personal experiences, the freshly released Mirror Mirror, which is available now via Earache Records, hopes to provide escapism, honesty and sincerity as it tackles a range of prominent subjects. Are you prepared to have your mind completely blown?
Jealousy Don’t Look Good On You eases you in with accessible synths and soothing vocal tones, and as the momentum builds enticing hooks and punchy drumming are introduced to put an additional spring in its step. Divide And Conquer ramps up the technical intricacy, sprinkling melodic flair wherever it treads. The lyrical narrative sucks you into the track’s graceful flow and the unfolding vibrancy is a joy to behold. Reign sustains the high energy and buoyant tempo, providing you with another string of perfectly crafted opportunities for audience participation. The diverse layering has no right to be this catchy.
Begging confidently bops along as groove-ridden riffing takes centre stage. The heaviness of the instrumentation slots in alongside the soaring vocal lines effortlessly. The piano notes which usher in Eternal provide an additional element of emotive theatricality to coincide with the energetic waves of crunchy riffing. On the other side of the coin, the piano displays a different vibe entirely as Guilty chooses a more solemn, melancholic approach, bolstered by powerful bass runs. The guitar work unobtrusively glistens in the periphery before striking just at the right moment. Take Your Poison opts for a more subtle nature than its predecessors, allowing for the vocals to take hold and seep slickly into your bloodstream. The pulsing electronic beat works well in shifting the pacing up a notch.
Drown returns to the progressive realm, ebbing and flowing in intensity to devise a varied, alluring soundscape. Lovesick delves deeper into the electronic experimentation, offering up a euphoric rush of colour and tone. Just as you are whisked away in the grandeur the script is completely flipped and the song descends into crushing riffs. Veil tinkers with darker elements; snappy bass licks run amok, injecting some groove into proceedings. The contrast of styles and moods creates an intriguing proposition. Sorry is the musical depiction of internal struggle being splattered onto a canvas for everyone to witness. The emotional depth and expression are really striking leaving you with a lot to unpack as this release departs.
Mirror Mirror could prove to be quite the wildcard. Whilst being littered with a whole host of metal hallmarks it is also incredibly welcoming to anyone who may be more comfortable in the radio friendly, mainstream arena. ADHARMA have crafted an exciting combination of moods and sensations within this collection that has a ridiculous level of replayability. What an exciting prospect for the future!
Rating: 9/10
Mirror Mirror is out now via Earache Records.
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