“Connection never felt so real, can it last forever?“
While there might be many descriptors such as industrial, metal or hardcore that can be applied to CANDY, its always been the visceral and harrowing sound that present that has really defined them. Whether it be the releases of Heaven is Here or Good To Feel or Good To Feel, there’s been an underlying sense of nastiness to CANDY‘s sound – the kind that gives a slight discomfort, while tapping into a sort of catharsis from what surrounds society. On latest record, It’s Inside You, sees CANDY further indulge in that, while also adding a touch of innovation to their sound.
The assault of CANDY‘s sound is evident from the outset, as “eXistenZ” overwhelms the senses and leaves no room to escape. “Short Circuit” featuring Aaron Melnick and “You Will Never Get Me” with Justice Tripp induce an adrenaline kick that gives a buzz to the record. The former leans on more industrial roots and deliversa continuous barrage of monstrosity, designed to weed out those unwilling to CANDY‘s brutality.
It’s here onwards that the industrial influences that CANDY previously had used become more precise and impactful. While it might be an obtuse comparison, it sits well in the ear, much like the recent work of Code Orange. “Love Like Snow” further adds to this, which features MISRY vocal Marisa Shirar, also known for their work in Fleshwater. These tracks provide an entry point to CANDY‘s sound that wasn’t present before, with the efforts of mmph giving it an absolutely magical sense.
For any dream-like states that “Love Like Snow” may have put the listener in, CANDY soon returns them to their nightmare on encompassing “Dehumanize“. A track keen to fry the ear of anyone still using their 2012 earphones, it’s tuned so low it would make an amp wobble away with its ferocity. As “Faith 91” yells “Try to save myself but I keep slipping, the weight of days is dreadful“, the nihilistic edge of CANDY might begin to cut in. Yet it is in moments like this where It’s Inside You feels like entering the trompe l’oeil of desolation.
The visceral nature that CANDY offer up with is contrasted with existentialism in “Dreams Less Sweet” presents, as it offers the arid line “Are we living in a world just to die?“; it touches on emotions that many records haven’t recently. The hyperpop and sensory-overloading track “Dancing To The Infinite Beat” deepens this streak as it examines the disparity and overwhelming nature of modern society. The fittingly named “Hypercore” blends it all together to close out the record.
One of the joys of It’s Inside You is that it only hangs together as a record by it seams, giving a sense that it might just burst into something unknown at any moment. Its industrial blend feels akin to that of Current 93, using that influence to give a bleakness to a sound, while giving it a haunting atmosphere. The frenetic sound of CANDY remains unmatched, and after Heaven is Here or Good To Feel, they’ve only further entrenched that, while adding a breadth to their sound and maintaining the sinister permutations that gave them their notoriety.
8.5/10
It’s Inside You is set to release June 7th via Relapse Records, and can be pre-ordered here.