Album Review: Chase Atlantic – 'Beauty in Death'
Australian trio Chase Atlantic steal your heart and mind on their new album ‘BEAUTY IN DEATH’.
In true Chase Atlantic fashion, ‘Beauty In Death’ is genre-fluid. Mixing trap, RnB and psychedelic alternative, the band have long forged a well-travelled path for their sleek sound and seductive charm. It’s the kind of sound that, quite frankly, gets you high. Electrifying basslines and smooth transitions feel like liquid ecstasy. No wonder when they’re coming from a band that openly speaks about drugs and addiction as a way to cope with depression and anxiety.
‘BEAUTY IN DEATH is a natural extension of their two previous records, showcasing the band’s sonic evolution, steadily gaining confidence and carving out their own niche in pop music. All 12 tracks come armed with Chase Atlantic’s signature vocals and slick production. Meaning, devilish opener ‘PARANOID’ immediately pulls you into their intoxicating universe and this is where you stay -chained to atmospheric shackles- until the final chord of closing number ‘WASTED’ has ebbed off. But, as with every Chase Atlantic record, there are two sides to this coin. You can either vibe to their hypnotic sound, losing yourself in its synthy depths and immaculate saxophone solos, or you wade through the thick of their poignant lyricism: battling fear and insecurity, confronting nasty little demons and hanging on for dear life.
‘BEAUTY IN DEATH’ is a dark pit of mental chaos hidden beneath a kaleidoscope of trippy colours. “Please Xanny, I’ll do anything to breathe, Xanny,” heartfelt vocals beg on ‘PLEASEXANNY’, “Molly you would lie to me and tell me everything would be alright, then you left me to die,” on ‘MOLLY’ – two songs that, guided by intricate melody lines, illustrate a complicated relationship with medication and drug abuse in a way that is both heart-breaking and devastatingly relatable. Sonically, the album effortlessly switches between dark, tumultuous trenches and highs that feel almost weightless. A stark contrast that may or may not relate to the emotional rollercoaster that comes with any kind of mental illness. In that vein, you have ‘OUTTHEROOF’, a track that with its distorted vocals and angular production is very much on edge, moving through the soothing (or numbing) waters of ‘SLIDE’ into title track ‘BEAUTY IN DEATH’. Here, Chase Atlantic whip out their pop sensibilities, wrapping dark thoughts into the most carefree, sunny rhythms and an impressively catchy chorus. There may be beauty in death, but this song alone is worth living for.
‘BEAUTY IN DEATH’, as ‘PHASES’ and ‘Chase Atlantic’ before it, is remarkably well-rounded. It shows off all of Chase Atlantic’s strengths without being repetitive or boring. Here is a band that has found their sound and will keep fine-tuning and elevating it until the whole world has caught on.
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven