Lilim/Mirabelle
Lilim
Weighted Ghosts // Independent
Weighted Ghosts, the new album from Toronto feminist metal force Lilim, begins doomily, setting a goosebump-inducing gothic scene. Picture this: A maiden resides alone in the tower of a doomed castle, as the sounds of blood-thirsty monsters devouring the people of the village echo off the stone walls leading up to her chamber. Then, she unleashes a blood-curdling war cry as she grabs her battle axe, kicks open the door, and exacts revenge on every murderous brute that laid siege to the village. This plot could make a fitting, albeit cheesy like heavy metal van art, music video for the first track. On their new album, Lilim continue to fight the good fight(s) and their chops as musicians, coupled with the fearlessness of their lyrics show that they are the perfect band to lead the charge.
Hype has grown around Lilim over the last few years as they’ve burst onto Canada’s music scene playing no-nonse hardcore punk with metal heaviness, while addressing racism, colonialism, sexism, sexual assault and the deterioration of our planet. Their bandcamp tag line is “patriarchy-smashing, ally creating, heavy heavy heavy Toronto based-feminist metal.” That sentence says everything you need to know, but a further gander at their bandcamp page shows their “Defund the Police” banner, and one hundred percent of the proceeds from Weighted Ghosts go to The Black Legal Action Centre. They raised well over a thousand dollars in the first week. They’re talking the talk and walking the walk. Now let’s discuss the music.
This is an album for punk and metal fans alike. It is fast and direct like punk music, but Lilim aren’t afraid to get heavy and watch the listeners uncontrollably drop into fits of teeth-clenching headbangery. There’s noise, and plenty of thrash and black metal flavour for the metalheads. The first song “Waving to Wolves” is the best example of their metal/hardcore punk blend. It has the throbbing heaviness of the intro and middle section, the latter part sludging along as singer Kirsten White yells “the tears raise the waters, raking lightning across my ribs,” but in between, the blast beats take over, and the song ends with a full-throttle punk finish. Lilim are in good company, carving out a spot among other heavy Canadian acts like Ken Mode. The production is nice and ugly and there’s plenty of fuzz and grime. ”Apathetic Dog,” released earlier this year as the album’s single, showcases the band’s versatility. As White sings “freedom is breaking away” her voice is the purest it has been on the record, and then a distorted scream takes over before the song gets too pretty. This is followed by haunting layered vocals that sound like they could come from the evil witch sisters in Kubo. From the guitars there’s heavy riffing, soaring notes and a guitar line that plays the part of an arpeggiating synth. There’s cohesion between the songs, but the dynamics within the songs make for an exciting listen. When White falls into a spoken word delivery mode during the breakdown of “Bloodlet” the switch back to screaming has so much more guts. The band knows how to support White perfectly, and they never become self-indulgent. This makes moments like the guitar solo in “Martyrs” feel like a treat rather than an obligation. White seems to be charged by this solo and returns with relentless vigour. White and the other band members have a symbiotic relationship as the band feeds off of White’s energy, and White feeds off of the band’s intensity. The result is a full-length record that never loses steam.
On “Bloodlet” White asks “Do you see me? Do you hear my voice?” The answer is an overwhelming yes. This is one of the rawest albums to come out of Canada this year, and it’s coming out right when we need it most. But don’t just take this straight white male’s word for it. Head on over to bandcamp, give some cash to a noble cause and check out this beast of a record.
- Devon Dozlaw
Mirabelle
Late Bloomer // Simone Records
From a title like Late Bloomer, you might think that the artist who released it is late to the game - try and try as they might, they never really grew into their gangly musical limbs. This is only partly true for the talented Francophone artist hailing from Montreal. Laurence Helie is not late to the game – having released two highly acclaimed folk albums in the early 00’s, she was at the game before you knew about it – but her new alter-ego, Mirabelle, feels like a growth spurt that allowed her to fully embody what she was meant to deliver.
Under the new moniker, Mirabelle’s first record, Late Bloomer, is a rollercoaster of emotions, set on a track of self-discovery and acceptance. It kind of reminds me of my experience of working from home so far – at first, shit is great. I haven’t worn pants in I don’t know how long, and it feels acceptable to eat Lucky Charms every day because no one is around to judge me. But then, as we keep going, I realise I’m starting to miss that in-person human connection, pants, and a vegetable once in a while. As we move through the tiring fight of “am I in a downward spiral of bad habits” (re: questioning what is an acceptable time to set my alarm if I have a 7:30AM meeting that keeps me on the brink of slightly acceptable but not quite human garbage **7:23AM**), I begin to realize that maybe I should re-think how I’m viewing this new normal and see it as a way to reflect, accept and just do your best.
So if it wasn’t clear from all that, what I’m trying to say is that Late Bloomer is excellent. It makes you feel all the feels while still leaving you wanting to celebrate where you are and where you have come from. It’s Mirabelle’s ode to a fresh start, and it doesn’t shy away from addressing the highs and lows of how to get there. As you move through each track alongside Mirabelle, you can feel the beauty in her voice and brooding doubt in the beat, drawing you in to think about your own experiences so far.
To give you a little more insight on what this album can do for you, see my “Pairings” list below to help you get the most out of your first listen.
Late Bloomer Pairings - A Synopsis
Perfect to listen to while: Lying on the grass. Tall grass. Ideally with flowers. And maybe petting a baby deer.
Best enjoyed while eating: Lucky Charms
Pairs well with: Sloe Gin and Tonic
- Carly Weiler
