Maria Lubanovic, Staff Writer
[Secretly Canadian, 2017]
Rating: 8.5/10

Key Tracks: “I Told You I’d Be With the Guys,” “Apocalipstick,” “Nurse Ratched”

Apocalipstick is the second album by indie-rock group Cherry Glazerr.  Since their last album, the trio has overhauled itself, bringing a new sound to the group and putting more focus on frontwoman, and only original band member, Clementine Creevy.

Opening with a punk-inspired guitar riff, “I Told You I’d Be With the Guys” carries a hard rock feel along with hard-hitting yet sad lyrics, centering around how Creevy “used to be a lone wolf”, and her attempt to connect with other women and make space for herself in a man’s world. Many of the other tracks on the album carry the same symbolism and spirit.

“Sip O’ Poison” and the title track “Apocalipstick” are equally as tough, with a focus on intense riffs paired with Creevy’s signature wailing lyrics. “Nurse Ratched” has a similar tone, with a repeating chorus of “She’s a wild one” and by far the best and most acute guitar solo on the entire album.

Some of the best musical moments come from the slower, more ballad-like tracks. “Nuclear Bomb” is a great example of more lucid and quiet moments coming together to create a more comely track that remains cohesive and true to the style of the album. It still has strong vocal moments, despite the softness and fuzziness compared with the rest of the album.

Not every track takes itself so seriously. The best example of this is “Trash People”, with lyrics like “We wear our underpants three days in a row” and “My room smells like an ashtray” over a soft and bubbly track of synth music and driving, almost urgent, drumming.  These moments keep the album from feeling too somber.

The only shortcoming of Apocalipstick is its length. With so much to say, there could be more music, especially tracks that showcase even more of the talent that this trio has.