In February of 2021, I discovered Black Dresses through their new release of Forever in Your Heart. It was chaotic and heavy, but also vulnerable and intimate. It made me feel hopeless and dissociated, but also tranquil and inspired. This propelled it to the top spot for my album of the year list where it stayed till the calendar turned. The band has released another album since then, Forget Your Own Face, but we’re not here to talk about that album today, nor even Black Dresses really. One half of the band is the supremely talented Ada Rook. In February of this year, she released a teaser trailer for UGLY DEATH NO REDEMPTION ANGEL CURSE I LOVE YOU and I was instantly extremely excited. The collection of clips from the album’s tracks all sounded like exactly what I want to listen to in an Ada Rook album. I’m happy to say that the album lived up to the high expectations I garnered from that trailer.
After a brutal, distortion fuelled opening, the first track in truth, “999999999 IN A DREAM” starts with a haunting multi-layered synth which encompasses a lot of what you can except in the track listing. The synth continues to evolve until Ada’s magnificently intense screams take it to the next level. This song, as well as many others, lean into the hyper pop sound that Ada has gotten so good at utilizing.
There’s also a bit of a narrative that takes the form of vocal samples throughout the album. It honestly gives the album some extra flavour and style, and I haven’t found them tiresome at all even with how much I’ve listened to the record. This is due to how effectively they’re used, and how they don’t overstay their welcome as well. As far as the story goes, “999999999 IN A DREAM” straight up states at the end: “this is how a very small world of women was left behind. The world is dying slowly. And since no more children could be born, we had no choice except to accept death.” Past that and a couple stray story beats here and there, I haven’t been able to piece too much of it together yet, but like I said, it’s an enjoyable addition for me, and one I hope to gain more clarity on as I play this album over and over. There’s also something about a mouse? Yeah, I need to figure this out more…
The hyper pop elements are the main attraction on the next couple tracks, with industrial metal influence that Ada is so well known for taking a bit of a back seat. The latter is only seen on the bridge of “PURGATOR3Y MODULATION ENGINE” and introduced a bit more on “TRU U”. The production on the metal side of things meshes so well with the thick bass and punchy electronics that you’d think they were always meant to sound like this. The verses on this one tread towards hip-hop centric melodies and delivery, and to be honest, I don’t find the execution to be a boon for the track. However, “TRU U” has a fantastic chorus, arguably the best on the album.
“Gravity Weapon” has the bounciest bass that will see the light of day in the year 2022 and it’s God damn epic because of it. Moreover, Ada makes her screams seem so effortless, but there’s something about them that just steals the show when they’re on display, and they very much are on this track. The combination of these two aspects makes “Gravity Weapon” truly feel like the soundtrack to a cyberpunk apocalypse and I am HERE for it. I’m also appreciating how the metalcore elements are kind of on a slow ramp in the first handful of tracks until they’re fully on display here – intro track “im cis” notwithstanding, of course.
I love basically all of these tracks, but “UNDERNEATH IT ALL” is emerging as a favourite. The top line is so very cathartic and epic, and it’s laid over these djent chords that sound out of rhythm, even for being djent inspired, but despite that, it really works in presenting a very engaging chord progression and soundscape. The rest of the track is a trip, too, with Ada putting out some guttural deathcore growls at one point, because why not? Back to the topline (shoutout to ASHNERVE for a stellar hook) – “How could a world so beautiful let this happen?” is a lyric I love for a multitude of reasons. First off, it touches on themes of doom and hopelessness that I think Black Dresses and Ada Rook fans latch onto. Secondly, it’s just a general statement that can be applied to anything in anyone’s life – multiple things even. It easily resonates with people while giving a sense of camaraderie. How could a world so beautiful let this happen? We’re all thinking this, let’s find the answer.
While “VANISH/DOOM” is the one track I don’t absolute love, the record still ends with a bang after that. “XANAFALGUE” leans the most into a straight up metalcore banger with slow breakdowns and multiple change ups on that front. The track is so dynamic, but each part is consistently heavy and engaging. Along with the more creative elements rounding out the track, it’s an awesome entry.
After a short, peaceful interlude in “night in a secret world,” it’s time for the closer, but not before reminding us of that “stupid mouse” again. “5H4D0W H347Z” juxtaposes quaint vocal deliveries by Rook with a high energy crushing instrumental that comes and goes. There’s also a more sombre middle section that has these distorted chords that sound expertly produced. Thus, one of my favourite records of the year is closed out. This is a pop record at heart, but there’s so many advanced aspects to each sound that is applied to the record, from the more minimal ones to the head banging heavy moments. This is one of my favourite albums of the year so far, and likely will remain so. This is due to Ada Rook being one of the best musicians putting out music right now, full stop.
9/10
You can purchase the album here or visit Ada’s Patreon for extra goodies.