Cherie Amour’s second album Chrome Hearts is the band really finding their sound.
Kicking off the record we have the lead singles from the record and immediately you’ll notice that growth I mentioned above.
The group straying away from that more straight forward nu-punk sound and really focusing into a blend of r&b, pop, hip hop and punk.
First track Beyblade is a great taste of what to expect out of this band; it takes us on a journey of all the influences we’ll get, a pop chorus, hip hop verses and there’s even a bit that emo rap/pop punk vibe in the bridge.
Later is Release Me, which was a huge release and turning point for the band. This one thematically covers the frustrating side that comes with signing with a record label. This one is through and through the recipe of a great single, focusing on a chorus that is nothing less than an ear worm.
Vocalist Trey Miller singing “you sold me on some shit that you wasn’t about, I signed that dotted line, you were joking around”. I came across this song and immediately found myself not being able to get it out of my head.
In the second half of the record is where I believe the band starts doing their best work. The track High brings in some dance/electronic style instrumental for the chorus; which is one of my personal favourite sections on the record thus far. The composition is really fresh as in the second verse, as the bass mimics the electronics on that first chorus. Come the second chorus the band fully comes in; the instrumental is essentially continuously growing and evolving throughout the runtime.
To close out the record is Rom-Com Type-Beat which focuses a bit more on the trap influenced side of the band, which I think is one of their strengths. It starts off with eerie synth trap beat, and a rap focused verse. Drummer Ronnie Sherman comes in on the second half of the verse building the lead up for the rest of the band to come in on the pop-rock driven chorus.
Structurally this one is extremely effective as well, as the second verse gives us more of a punk style before whipping us back into that chorus again. Then to close out the record they give us a nice little breakdown to bring it home.
Chrome Hearts is a record that you can really feel the chemistry the band has found, they’re clearly finding their footing and where they want to be sonically.
Being still early into their career, I do believe there’s improvements that can be made but there’s no doubt that Chrome Hearts is a great taste of a band who deserves everyone’s attention.
7.5/10
Chrome Hearts is available everywhere now.