Bad Pollyanna
Monstrous Child
10 Track Album
Glitch 13
Released 28th August 2013
Superb Album!
Bad Pollyanna – Huddersfield/Sheffield/Manchester
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/badpollyanna
Bad Pollyanna are proudly sponsored by cult make-up brand Illamasqua, with who
they are releasing The Official Charity Single: Invincible Girl. The single is
in support of The Sophie Lancaster
Foundation and was released on the 11th August 2014.
L-R - Valarian, Stephen, Olivia and Nikki
Genre: Alternative/Industrial/Gothic/Animae
I couldn’t go another day without having to say a few words – well ok
a lot of words about this album. Since first hearing “Liquid Lover” from what
seems like a MySpace ago I have wanted to see Bad Pollyanna in action and not only did I get my wish on the 13th
August but now got the album so I can replay it all in its glory and bask in
its many delights.
Olivia brings to life a character who has been conditioned by her
surroundings and this tells the battle of her attempts to reinvent herself
against all odds and leave behind a world that stole her innocence - she has
now got to choose between holding on to her humanity, or avenging the monster!
Hollow
Is without doubt one of the most haunting tracks I have heard for a long
time. Olivia’s voice is lilting and melodic, surrounded with dramatic guitar
and programmed genius. If you watch the video to it – it sends chills down the
spine and plays out like a horror movie and expertly acted out by Olivia who
plays all the female roles.
Hauntingly superb - Hollow!
Awake Now
Executed so well live and this unearths the performance all over
again. It is all I can do to close my eyes and play it all out in my head. The
tempered tones blend with a swirling and erupting attack on the senses. A very
expressive track that the listener can easily and more than likely get caught
up in.
Monstrous Child
Title track to the album – with abrasive edge and cleverly
sculptured lyrics that in true Bad Pollyanna
style paints a very colourful picture and is a hypnotic meshing of various
haunting and slithering mesmerisation, wrapped up in massive melodic hues.
Deviant - Monstrous Child
Liquid Lover
My favourite track as it brings back superb memories of discovering
the band – even if it was on Myspace!! If the word predatory can be used it
should be used for this track as it prowls with seduction in every sense of the
word. With a grazing and feisty pull it lures with intent to viciously attack
when you least expect it! The video to the track also hosts a superb twist! Shame it isn't online any more.
With lyrics like this it is hard not to get caught up in the moment:
“I want to feel you deep inside
Numbing all my pain
I hate myself for needing you
But I know that I can’t abstain
I want to feel the freedom
The sweet loss of control
The mediocrity is killing me
Won’t you fill the hole?”
Where does it hurt?
A malingering gnawing run of programmed ingenuity opens this track
and then Olivia’s attentive vocal caresses the ears with a very unusual wash effect.
This is an all-out powerful grazing that embraces from the start. The deep
chasms of melody add a thrilling voracity to its impressive heights.
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“They go from ambient to raw,
poignant to seductive all in the play of a button. Whilst capturing chunks of
melodic rampage and addictive riffs. The tracks are just so easy to wrap
yourself in – it is bold and not afraid to step outside the box making it an
all-out fully engaging listen - and is truly one gem of an album to sink your
teeth into, no matter what the mood!”
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Letting you go
Deep ravenous bass hooks scavenge in predatory manner to poignant
vocal entourage and superb emotion. Passion flows through its structure. This
was the other track that I heard way back when. It is a dramatic encounter into
the subconscious mind and I am sure will give the listener something to think
about.
Taken at Studio 2 by Pagan
My Incubi
A gnarly evil force is at play here amid arousing deep emotive
seduction and torrid forceful rhythms that twist and turn voraciously into a melodious
swagger with uplifting vocals that are urgent in their delivery.
The Living Dead
Petulant and edgy this marches through its paces with a melodic
discipline that allows no time for dillydallying and impresses with a magical
touch. It is cloaked in an edgy format of brooding and contagious rhythms.
Taken at Studio 2 by Pagan
Chase the Demons from my bed
With a steadily growing appetite this greedily chews on the senses
with shrill infused electronic haze and spawns with enchanting seductive
appeal. It swarms wearily through its course and steels the imagination with irrepressible
intrigue.
Epilogue Invincible Girl
Thoughts of Sophie Lancaster come flooding to mind and this
track with its poignant lyrics are the trigger for tears – I just can’t listen
without them flowing. It captures the beauty and innocence of a young girl with
her whole life ahead of her – crushed by mindless thugs. It is a very painful lesson and captured within strong lyrics and haunting melodies is the heart of one invincible
girl.
The song to end all albums.... Invincible Girl
Summary:
This album gives the listener a form of escapism, be it sometimes done
in a kind of tongue in cheek way but it allows the listener time to forget about
the world outside and just indulge in its episodes as each track tells an
amazing story – if you listen carefully and allow the words to penetrate deeply
into your mind.
As each track is played out it allows the listener to conjour up
their own images to the words that are heartfelt and embracing. It may not give you the images you want but
life has a habit of poking you in the eye when you least expect it, and Bad Pollyanna are true masters of their
art – make no mistake.
They go from ambient to raw, poignant to seductive all in the play
of a button. Whilst capturing chunks of melodic rampage and addictive riffs. The
tracks are just so easy to wrap yourself in – it is bold and not afraid to step
outside the box making it an all-out fully engaging listen - and is truly one
gem of an album to sink your teeth into, no matter what the mood!
If you haven’t seen Bad
Pollyanna live then I urgently request you do so – catch the band on Tour
now!
Check for dates near you
10/10
Track List:
Hollow
Awake Now
Monstrous Child
Liquid Lover
Where does it hurt?
Letting you go
My Incubi
The Living Dead
Chase the Demons from my bed
Epilogue Invincible Girl
Members:
Olivia Hyde - Vocals
Nikki Kontinen - Bass
Stephen Kilpatrick - Guitar
Valerian Adore - Drums
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