Holy F**k – “Deleter” Album Review

Story posted January 22, 2020 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Scott Perdue

Fresh and inventive, the indie electronic rock group Holy F**k is back with its latest album “Deleter.” Exploring themes of industrial darkness with a lighthearted techno feel, Holy F**k’s latest effort proves to be an interesting shift for the group’s sound.

Meshing the dark tones of Joy Division with the sporadic soundscape construction of the Flaming Lips, Holy F**k is a group well known for its use of unconventional instruments. Utilizing anything from legitimate instruments to toy laser pistols, Holy F**k has showcased just how diverse its sound can be. Rising in popularity over the years, Holy F**k’s music has appeared on hit TV shows such as “Mr. Robot” and “Breaking Bad.” Showing no sign of slowing down, Holy F**k appears to be continuing its pushing of the envelope with a completely new aesthetic.

Opening with the mechanical “Luxe,” Holy F**k proves its talents of soundscape construction by successfully layering several different tones and melodies. The faint background vocals lift the flares of sound with impressive zeal.

The album then loses a bit of its grip with the lacking “Deleters” and the drawn out “Endless.” While there is nothing particularly wrong with these tracks, the sounds presented on these songs appear again later on the album better utilized.

Transitioning to the mesmerizing “Free Gloss,” Holy F**k draws the listener back in with flowing waves of stimulating grooves. Definitely the crown jewel of the album, “Free Gloss” exhibits the band’s new direction with flawless execution.

The album then shifts to a far more energized tone with the track “Moment.” Laying down a slew of bold guitar strikes, the group propels the record forward into a range of scattered sounds. Crafting a sort of organized chaos, Holy F**k impressively appears to maintain the composure of the album’s flow while still allowing it to spark off into flurries of odd sound texture.

Maintaining the pulse of the record, Holy F**k then spiral off into a relaxed upbeat feel with “Near Mint.” Invoking the sound of effervescent groups like the B-52’s and Wang Chung, the track feels absolutely carefree. The blissful composure of the song allows the listener to kick back and be taken away by the band’s lulling drift.

Unfortunately, the latter half of the record begins to bleed into itself and lacks any real distinguishing factors. It also becomes more of an issue that the group allows its tracks to play out for far too long. This causes a detachment from the experience as a whole as opposed to supporting some feeling of odyssey.

Overall, Holy F**k proves it has a unique grasp over its electronic sound. In a space where it is hard to showcase any real signs of variety, “Deleter” proves that Holy F**k is attempting to tread into new territory. Hopefully on a future release, Holy F**k can work towards cutting back the length of some of its supporting tracks so that the experience of its records as a whole are not hindered.

Rating: 6/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Free Gloss”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “No Error”

 

Scott Perdue is a junior majoring in secondary education. To contact him, email rsp5246@psu.edu.