Gothtober- AYRIA : "13 Stitches

 

• This Canadian artist is on the more upbeat EDM side of darkwave now, but there is still enough darkness lurking in the sheen to stay true to where she came from. The opening track carries a cyberpunk tempo. A moodier drama begins to creep into "Turn of the Tide".  If you are A goth who goes to Dragon Con, chances are that is where you were introduced to her. I know I was.  Perhaps she is just older and wiser, but the overall vibe is less sexual than what I remember her bringing to the table. There is a little of this on "Not My First Time," which is also a little darker. This chorus is the hookiest part of the first three songs for sure. 
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• There is more of a Euro groove to " Long Gone" that has perhaps more in common with Depeche Mode. I like Depeche Mode, but I am not sure I wnat her to sound like them. I prefer her darker, hyper-sexual previous work. There is almost an industrial element to "Vicous World"; she purrs into the song more. This version of her works for me. Then things feel more like new wave on "Manic "; this is almost too happy for me. There is more of the feeling I want from the beat of "Antihero", though the vocals feel like Madonna to me. Though she has always been a bit of a darkwave Madonna.

"Trickle Truth " has more grit in its beat and better lyrics. This groove also works better for her. It feels more like Nine Inch Nails to some extent. There is more of a techno beat to "Don't Ever Touch Me Again" . Despite the lyrics, sonically it feels more upbeat. It should be angrier. There is a subtle synthwave vibe to "Overturn". While not as dark as what I would prefer, it sounds cool and sets the stage for a more sultry vocal from her that balances this out. Not the hookiest chorus of the album. It does grow on me a little. 

Ironically, there is more of an 80s sound to "We're Not Relevant." There is a darker throb to "Mr Morals". The vocals have a more Reznor-influenced cadence. The album closes with "Turn into Gold," which finds her back in a more 80s new wave mode. It has a little more drive than most new wave and is not obsessed with capturing the sound of yesteryear. Overall, with the mature direction shifting in what she does it works for where she is at in life now, so I will give this album a  9.  Its out on Artoffact Records. 

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