Welcome to an Album Shrink Review: album reviews with a psychological slant. I am Ryan McCann, a licensed independent mental health professional, audiophile, and volunteer sound tech. Please, have a seat on the couch, relax, and let’s see what our latest client has to tell us. This is Kissing Death by Mothica.
I’m glad to be off the pine and writing again. A new-to-me artist and album proved to be the perfect aid to renewing my critical chops.
Kissing Death is a genre-bending album with several toe-tappers that will trojan-horse an existential theme into your ears. Mothica has a smooth and inviting voice that takes well to the vocal effects and production elements providing all sorts of ear candy for the listener. I’ll take you track-by-track and give you some of my impressions.
The Void: You’ll get a nice sampling of what Kissing Death has to offer on this track. The vibes of New Wave and the vocals are airy. You’ll catch some gated reverb on the drums too. Similar to Phil Collins’s “In The Air Tonight”. Clocking in at a minute and thirty seconds, it serves its purpose as the perfect introduction.
Exit Plan: This song is our first Nu Metal-esque rocker. No, I don’t mean this song sounds like butt-rock. I mean, heavier elements with an emphasis on the beat. The kind of danceable beat that gets you gyrating in your chair. But upon your second listen pay closer attention to the lyrics. Mothica opens up about depression and trying to go out when you don’t feel like it.
It seems to be a theme with Mothica. One that continues in the lyrics of “Another High”.
Another High: Bombastic bass and Mothica’s sing-song voice give this song real energy. The instrumentation is layered and moves across your speakers or headphones. It creates a drug-like soundscape that matches the lyrics.
Doomed: Here we are treated to a ballad by McKenzie Ashton Ellis, the artist behind Mothica. It is an autobiographical track that gives us some explanation of her existential dread. She croons out in the chorus, “I wanna be cool, tried to be wild. Everyone said I was a gifted child. Punctured my skin, pulled me apart. Guess I was doomed, I was doomed from the start.” I’m reminded of a line by Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in Almost Famous. “The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.” This track evokes that same feeling from that scene of dreading that you’ll never be cool, accepted, or successful.
Regardless of age, race, or gender, I think it is a very relatable message.
Curiosity Killed The Moth: We learn more about the Mothica persona in this song. Alternating between the messages received in childhood we learned about in Doomed and a curious drive that motivates her like a moth to flame, the lyrics paint a picture of an artist who got caught up in a lifestyle she couldn’t sustain. The curiosity remains but she’s given up the pills and facade that once fascinated her. The lyrics are underscored by a wide-open sound with a shifting tone and instrumentation reminiscent of Metric’s “Doomscroller”. There’s a quiet bug-zapper sound that ends the song on a humorous note.
Red: I wanted to like this one. The vocals are cleaner, and the instrumentation isn’t as dense compared to previous songs. It felt like Mothica could have let loose and belted out a real screamer. It falls a bit flat in comparison to the rest of the material on this album.
The Reaper: I mentioned toe-tappers. Here’s our second one. The jangling high hat and pulsing synth bass will get your neck rolling and head bobbing. It feels like an allusion to Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Feel the Reaper” in tone and subject. I think you’ll be grooving along to this one on repeat in your car or cranking it up on a Saturday afternoon to get some chores done. And maybe like me and you’ll be hoping Ghost decides to cover this song in their Scooby-Doo Metal style.
Mothica, I’m nominating you to write the next James Bond opening credit sequence because of this next song…
Toxins: While listening to it I instantly pictured a sexy chanteuse leading James into a dressing room backstage only to inject him with some paralyzing toxin. It even features synth horns in the background to complete the spy thriller anthem motif.
Afterlife: This track is a treat of highly resolving synth grooves that provide danceable energy. You can tune into the hand claps, bass, or buzzing guitars and move along to the music easily. Another one to add to your playlist when you need some motivation to get up and go.
Mirage: The production quality on this track really shines. The room and panning effects on Mothica’s voice really make it pop. Similarly, the instruments echo and move around the sound field creating mirages that mimic the lyrics.
Mothica’s ability to mesh production elements and lyrics is one of the key strengths of Kissing Death.
Oblivion for Two: Like “Red”, I felt like there was potential for Mothica to really open up vocally. We get clean vocals but more of a one-note performance. I don’t think there’s much depth to this song from an instrumentation and production standpoint either. And at two minutes and forty seconds, it feels more like a transition track that could have been more.
Kissing Death: Dynamic, earnest, and triumphant this title track completes the story arc of the album. The vocals rise with the organ swells and lovely backing vocals creating movement that fit the moving and deeply personal lyrics from Mothica. It is a satisfying closing track.
I went in totally cold to Kissing Death, knowing nothing about Mothica. Much less, listening to any of her previous work.
Song-by-song I was won over by her pop sensibilities, synth groves, and heartfelt lyrics. While a couple of tracks didn’t move me on a personal level, there are plenty of them that ought to end up on your playlists. I think you should give Kissing Death a listen too. Especially if you’re interested in flavoring pop with rock elements. With that said, I’m looking forward to future releases as well as combining through Mothica’s back catalogue.
Kissing Death is available to stream everywhere and to purchase at mothica.com
For more information on Mothica, check out Crushed Monocle Podcast: Episode 22