Chaos Doll is a musician/vocalist/performance artist and an enigma based in Washington, D.C., and this is her second longplay, following "Sexpot Robot" from 2021. While the first LP was set more firmly in the minimal synth/electro territory, "Veins" on the other hand delivers an eclectic, genre-fusing epic. It's anchored at the industrial coast but doesn’t shy away from embracing cold EBM beats, gothic darkwave, dark ambient tones, and cinematic droning synths. Chaos Doll's lyrics are deeply rooted in bleak, often misanthropic lore, serving as a series of warnings and accusations against self-centred humanity in the post-internet era. The songwriting and execution of these lyrics are incredible - from softly whispered almost-rap, to punk-flavoured raspy shouts, to electronically processed melodic singing. Honestly, this is easily one of my favourite albums of 2024, and it makes me wish I'd discovered it earlier! Don't sleep on this one!
Buy this album here, and stream in full down below.