With Afraid of Tomorrows, Liverpool band The Mysterines follow up their debut album
Reeling (2022). On that album, the band around singer and guitarist Lia Metcalf flirted with '90s rock such as grunge. On their second album, the group's sound colors even darker, with references to the sound of PJ Harvey, among others. The band teamed up with producer John Congleton (known for
St. Vincent and
… Mannequin Pussy, among others) and further breaks open their sound with growly guitar riffs and elements that deliciously rub together, while Metcalf groans through them with panting vocals. The intensity and tension that The Mysterines incorporate into their songs is expressed several times in beautiful climaxes, such as the sputtering ending of Hawkmoon. With Afraid of Tomorrows, this British band once again puts out a solid album overflowing with energy. (YvQ)more
