Nosebleeds＜Colored Vinyl＞

What a thrill. Between 2020s shimmering synth pop exercise Superbloom and this aptly titled fourth set, Nosebleeds, something clicked in Misterwives. After splitting with their label, the Mandy Lee-fronted band were forced to regroup, go indie, and reflect on the future -- which was suggested on 2022 stand-alone single "Where Do We Go from Here" -- setting them on a blistering, breakneck journey into heavier rock territory. From the opening riff of the riotous "Out of Your Mind," its quite apparent that this is not the typical Misterwives album. Aggressive, angry, and unrestrained, the crew taps into the darker corners of the soul for something truly cathartic and entirely unexpected. Even when the caustic riffs and pounding drums are dialed back, the seething energy and hunger remains, as heard on synth-washed jams like "Trigger Pull," "Too Late," and "End of My Rope." Fans of their bright indie pop shouldnt be too scared of these changes, as the band provides enough of their bread-and-butter sound on upbeat, sing-along anthems "All the Same," the pogoing bop "Sideways," and "Trip Around the Sun." The near-acoustic "Silver Lining" and "Ultraviolet" amplify the emotion and vulnerability, offering a couple moments to breathe within all the energy and action found on the rest of Nosebleeds. While every Misterwives album has its merits, this is their best and most exhilarating statement to date. ~ Neil Z. Yeung