ALBUM REVIEW: Black Honey - SOAK

Black Honey have been a consistent presence in the Indie Rock scene since the early 2010s, and their fourth album ‘Soak’ shows no signs of slowing down. Following lead vocalist Izzy Bee Phillip’s recent sobriety and autism diagnosis, ‘Soak’ is the first album where she ‘fully, 100% bared her soul herself’. The vulnerability has paid off - the no-skips tracklist ranges from Grunge-esque songs like ‘Dead’ to reflective songs like ‘Slow Dance’ and ‘Vampire in the Kitchen’ (which, by the way, has an unexpected killer guitar solo). If you have been a fan of this band since the beginning, fear not! Their stylish sound is still strong without being a repetition of their previous records.

Continuing in their cinematic essence, the cover is a nod to Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’, an apt reference for an album that deals with everything from existentialism to addiction. It encapsulates the franticness, the surrealism of constantly witnessing the complexities (and horrors) of the modern world, all whilst trying to find our own place within it.  In an age where MTV no longer dictates the charts, Black Honey’s attention to their music videos is severely refreshing. They build on the album’s themes, offering a wider exploration and celebration of their specific aesthetic influences.

The track ‘Insulin’ is a stellar opening to any album, offering a meditation on hormonal and emotional dysregulation. The images of ‘dog fight a hurricane’ and ‘fingers down a drain’ capture both a desperate attempt to be in control and the very real, very raw experience of seeking physical sensations when there’s a disconnect between mind and body. Other stand-out tracks include ‘Carroll Avenue’, an exploration of the effects of fame, and ‘Psycho’, a song about feeling stuck in a singular narrative and the nihilistic attitude that arises from that cycle.

Once again, the Indie powerhouses have knocked it out of the park again, proving their legacy as an essential band in the scene.