Mourning Pages is the debut album from the upcoming band Scarlet Joy. The record is a mix of different influences and styles from Grunge and Post-Punk to Alternative and 80s Pop-Rock. The opening track, Lost At Sea, made me visualize myself at a club show in the 80s thrashing around, rocking around and maybe dancing to the groovy bass lines of the song. The vocals pulsate at the beginning of the chorus, energizing you as you listen to them. There is a short bridge section that serves as a short break from all the energy and hype, then one last awesome chorus hits us and closes the track on a (literal) high note. The second track, Rescue, has more over-driven bass lines and highly reverb-ed vocals. The slower tempo of this song makes it and the drumming style make it lean towards a more 90s-grunge vibe. The mellow bridge adds to that feeling before we find ourselves listening to another heavy section. I’m in love with how these guys are capable of changing the tempo and mood in the middle of the song while sustaining insanely-high levels of energy. Cut Diamond begins with a drum beat and a guitar chord progression that remind me of 2000s pop-punk and alternative rock. There’s a very consistent personality to this band and their style that’s very malleable and easy to move around whatever genre and influence they may experiment with. The piano in this song was a pleasant surprise, as it’s an upbeat and poppy tune, but the piano adds to that vibe instead of taking away from it. Queen And Thief is the emotional ballad-type of song that rips your soul apart. The vocalist sings her heart out until the guitars and drums join in on the tremendous emotional weight of the song. Enough Is Enough begins with a somber guitar chord progression, then there are some complex drumming and belted vocals that bring some hype and energy. The song goes back and forth between slow and mid-tempo sections, which is a nice variety from the rest of the tracks which are relatively heavier than this. Kiss It All Goodbye is another groovy number with serene vocals and an overall upbeat atmosphere that will get you on your feet. The juxtaposition of soft airy vocals (with a reverb effect) against heavily distorted guitars and drums is a beautiful aesthetic that I can’t get enough of. Leaving Footprints is heavy and modern-sounding. The bass and drum lines could probably tear down a venue when played live, although it’s not your typical arena-rock kind of track. Instead, it takes the alternative rock approach that reminded me heavily of early Arctic Monkey albums. The eighth track, Golden, is another ballad that begins with a clean guitar (probably a classical acoustic because of how it resembles a harp). The vocals take the spotlight on this track for sure, as we can hear some high notes in the chest register and some others in a more heady mixed style. The lead vocalist really shows how she has a range of incredible abilities. The ninth and final track, Another World, is another mid-tempo grungy track with amazing chord progressions and energizing drums. One thing I was able to conclude at this point was how these guys have a natural talent for writing beautiful choruses. The bass and drums on this one are explosive, to say the least. For a debut record, these guys go as hard as the greatest and most famous bands do. Their natural talent (and the hard work that refines it) are prominent and evident on every note of every track, and their influences take over their general vibe without confining them to a certain subgenre.
