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Just before we wrap up this year with all traditional countdowns and festivities, it is time to talk about Poppy. Whether you love or hate her, one thing is certain, you cannot ignore her anymore. Maybe you didn't know her before and remained completely oblivious to her chaotic artistry, or chose to deliberately stay aside from her maniacal charm, but 2024 is the year she, and to an extend Sumerian Records behind her, played their cards perfectly.
Consider the iconic collab with Bad Omens on 'V.A.N' and their Concrete Forever tour; the team-up with Knocked Loose on 'Suffocate', leading to a second Grammy Nomination; the brilliant live featuring on Spiritbox' latest gem 'Soft Spine' from Louder Then Life; her amazing previous record Zig that just turned one year; and lastly, all truly outstanding singles released so far this year, and the excessive attention starts to make perfect sense and justifies the hype.
You might wonder what fresh hell spawned Poppy's mysterious and alluring being into the world, but it is a welcome addition to the wider heavy scene. Her talent, vision and charisma were always apparent but that latest LP really elevates the entire brand to a whole new level of excellence. Again, love her, hate her, but do listen to her latest Negative Spaces and judge for yourselves, for she is an artist to support, a personality to follow, a woman to admire.
Speaking as someone who did not know her that well few years ago, do not make the same mistake and sleep on her. Poppy has been dropping exemplary modern alernative bangers for years, be it the nu metal-infused I Disagree (2020), the grungey Flux (2021) or the more experimental and industrialised Zig (2023), her discography is already vibrant and colourful, but now it gets a brilliant new addition with the more metalcore-oriented and noticeably heavier Negative Spaces.
There is no right way to approach this album other than just leave all expectations, rumours or reviews aside and just jump right into the unstoppable vortex of emotions, genres and ideas. At first, the album is fast, energetic and punching before semlessly switching to melancholic, aethereal and experimental. Indie, rock, punk, hardcore, death metal, hyperpop, electronic, there are no bounderies worth respecting as far as Poppy is concerned, and even more so as far as her stunning vocal range extends.
Compared to her previous releases, Negative Spaces is as metal as it gets and hits the ground running right from the bulldozing opening trinity of have you had enough?, the cost of giving up and they're all around us. From there, the LP sucks you in a whirlpool of radio favourites like crystallized and halo, grungey anthems like push go and negative spaces, even the pit-starter the center's falling out, but above it is packed with timeless modern metal ragers like nothing and new way out, all coexisting in perfect alternative harmony.
Poppy' Negative Spaces might not be able to overshadow Linkin Park's From Zero that also dropped last Friday, but might just end up being equally important for the future of the popular metal scene and all its alternative and multi-genre branches. Poppy stands proudly in the twisted cross-section between the likes of Bjork, Spiritbox, Marilyn Manson, and BMTH in a melting pot of rich influences and huge personalities.
Many are currently trying to occupy the top of that niche that didn't even exist until recently, but so far only Poppy is attacking the top with such deternination and no signs of cringe and false pretence. The scene is only going to get more diverse and eccentric in the coming year, and something tells me Poppy with her Negative Spaces will play a central role in the near future as the righftul (solo) queen of the modern metal world.
Poppy - 'Negative Spaces'
Country: United States
Released: 15 November 2024
Label: Sumerian Records
Tracklisting:
1. have you had enough?
2. the cost of giving up
3. they're all around us
4. yesterday
5. crystallized
6. vital
7. push go
8. nothing
9. the center's falling out
10. hey there
11. negative spaces
12. surviving on defiance
13. new way out
14. tomorrow
15. halo
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