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I think a lot of people have misgivings about Scene Queen (AKA Hannah Collins), given that her career can be attributed to starting on TikTok, and the fact that she’s a bright pink sore thumb in the world of metalcore, but you’d be dumb to discount her as an artist. Her debut album, ‘Hot Singles in Your Area’, is fierce and aggressive and conveys the message that she wants to make you aware of, in the exact way she wants to make you aware of it. If you’re listening to her, as you should, then she’s already won – and that’s not at all a bad thing.
It’s not as if I’d call the songs groundbreaking in terms of their messaging either, but it’s refreshing to see a woman get to be so openly feminine in a space like metalcore, and the punchy, raw, sexual nature of her lyrics is also empowering to people who the aesthetic resonates with. The songs are all fairly short, but they get to the point quickly, and each one is slick and catchy repetitive enough to get stuck in your head, but not dragged out long enough to get annoying.
The features for the album are an impressive line-up for a debut, and ‘Girls Gone Wild’, the track that features Wargasm, was an immediate standout favourite for me. It’s upbeat and aggressive with what Collins wants it to say, and it’s a perfect anthem for both the frustrations of being female in current society, and the absurdity of that.
The title track, ‘Hot Singles in Your Area’ provides a switch-up, opening with a much slower, almost choral verse, before it drops into a heavier lamentation over the state of the modern dating market. It’s the same sharp, dynamic sound as the rest of the album, a showcase of the dichotomy of experience, both tight enough to show off the technical talent of the production, but just messy enough to fit the aesthetic perfectly.
The whole album is a short sharp shock from start to finish, in an absolutely brilliant way. It’s not all that trailblazing in its intentions or execution, but it’s fun all the way through, as well as allowing room for Collins’ voice, energy, and opinions to present themselves to you perfectly.
Review – El Vipond
‘Hot Singles In Your Area’ is available now via Hopeless Records, purchase HERE
Scene Queen Social Media:
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