In times where there are so many different outlets to find music, yet you often feel like you are coming up empty, there are artists like Savannah Pope that strike curiosity in the most colorful manner. Pope, a singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles, California, is no stranger to the Rock-n-Roll scene; having led the Modern Rock outfit SpaceCream in the past. Working solely under her name over the last six years, Pope emerged with her singles “Creature” and “Daddy Issues” in 2018, but it was not until 2019 that she put out her debut album Atlantis. Ranging between Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Folk Rock, and even some Glam Rock, beyond the interesting mixtures, what keeps Pope directly in your sight is her impassioned voice, going along with personal lyrics.
An artist who sings from the depths of her soul, and is not afraid to let it all hang out, Pope is unequivocally a unique performer who deserves attention. Working independently of a label, she continues to move forward in her quest to find artistic fulfillment with the new album Pandemonium. Set for release on September 27, 2024, it is her second overall full-length record, and if you were fortunate to hear Atlantis, hold onto your seats, because Pandemonium is quite different. Explaining this further, Atlantis was a colorful Rock-n-Roll album that took you on a fantastic voyage, but Pandemonium daringly gets a little more eccentric.
An album completely crowdfunded through Kickstarter, Sean Beavan (a man who has worked with everyone from Nine Inch Nails to Marilyn Manson and Gun N’ Roses) was called to handle the production, as Pope dives deep into an abyss of her own psychic. Doing so with lyrics that speak of her mental health, Pope is candid about the struggles she has faced through the years. Flipping the script and transforming the negatives into something positive, driving it all to heart is the out-of-this-world vocal performances. Mixing theatrics, drama, and a bit of a sense of humor, Pope takes you through the darkest corners of her mind all while pulling at your heartstrings with the music.
Arguably something you can call Rock Opera, Pandemonium follows in the footsteps of great concept albums such as David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars from 1972 or Queen’s Queen II from 1974. Putting Pope out in front very vulnerably, you experience the pain and suffering and the exhilaration of letting go of emotional anchors pinning Pope down to the ocean floor for decades. With this, eleven tracks work together as a cohesive piece of music where each needs the other as support.
This is not to say that the songs of Pandemonium could not serve themselves alone. For example, there are singles like “Freeway,” which has a more upbeat, straight Rock-n-Roll tone, as well as “Sick,” with a very ‘70s Rock vibe, “Big Black Hole” or “Orchid” that could catch anyone’s ear. However, other songs such as the opening title-track, “Slice of Life,” and the heartbreaking “Just Another Day” feel best served to experience within the fabric of the album. These are just some examples of Pandemonium’s brightest moments, but there is still plenty more intrigue going around here.
In truth, Savannah Pope is a vocalist who should be getting more attention. She has a Rock-n-Roll edge, an operatic tendency, and a flair for dark artistic expression that is nothing short of fascinating. If you are a fan of Rock Operas like Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell from 1974, or even Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime from 1988, and even W.A.S.P.’s The Crimson Idol from 1992, you are going to love Savannah Pope’s Pandemonium. Not to offer direct comparisons, but this is merely to give you a point of reference to the epic fashion this music is presented. Highly recommended, Cryptic Rock gives Pandemonium 4.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment