Brit-based international rock trio Calva Louise establish themselves as one of the UK’s most interesting bands on brilliantly chaotic fourth album.
What happens when a Venezuelan vocalist, a French guitarist, and a drummer from New Zealand hole up in London and decide to blow up every musical rulebook in sight? You get Calva Louise. Their latest offering, Edge Of The Abyss, is a record that fuses metalcore muscle, screamo chaos, Latin swagger and synth-drenched electro-pop into one gloriously unhinged thrill ride. It's as ambitious as it is unrelenting, and somehow, it never loses the plot.
Calva Louise aren’t interested in playing it safe. Take lead single W.T.F, which opens with the whispered anxiety of ‘What the fuck am I meant to do?’ before erupting into a fuzz-drenched riff assault, topped with a chorus so catchy you’ll be humming it through your next existential crisis.
Aimless is another standout moment, jumping between English and Spanish like it’s dodging bullets, while abrasive guitars snarl in the background. It’s fast, ferocious, and effortlessly cool. Then there’s Lo Que Vale, a no-holds-barred punch of pummeling tones, with vocalist Jess Allanic again returning to her native tongue to deliver vocals with the kind of venom that scorches through the mix.
Later on, The Abyss begins like a synthy nod to Stranger Things, but just as you get comfy, it mutates into a thumping, neon-lit dance banger that’s part industrial part Eurovision. Yes, sometimes it does get a little cheesy, but it’s like a light sprinkling of parmesan to help elevate an already well-rounded dish.
All this before closing track Under The Skin brings about an all-out sensory blitz. Riffs clash with electro flourishes, pulling you between bedroom mosh-pit mayhem and full-blown living room dance party.
With Edge Of The Abyss, Calva Louise have created a record that cements their place as one of the most interesting bands operating in the UK now. It’s a record that never sticks to the rules, and with every spin you’ll be finding yourself surprised repeatedly about the cleverly crafted mixture of influences and sounds.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Nova Twins, Enter Shikari, Beartooth
