HOT MILK - CORPORATION P.O.P.
This album explodes through our speakers, seeing in a new era for Hot Milk, bold, loud and uncompromising. This record, their sophomore full-length, marks a dramatic step forward from their 2023 debut, A Call to the Void. While their previous offering had been rooted in pop punk and emo tendencies, Corporation P.O.P. hurls the band into heavier territory. Mixing genres from punk to industrial with their signature dual vocals, fans have come to love.
Right from the get-go opener ‘(How Do I) Make the Devil Fall Asleep,’ it's clear the way forward is looking forward and not back. There can be no doubt this is a reinvention, which is a breath of fresh air in a scene currently dominated by nostalgia. Hannah Mee and Jim Shaw launch into vocal chaos, undoubtedly leaving listeners excited to hear what comes next.
In uncertain times like the ones we currently live in, music often holds a mirror up to society and this album does exactly that with keen political insight. Lyrically, there are themes that rally against nationalism, religion, addiction and of course corporate greed. They strike a great balance though, not too preachy or patronising, with Mee and Shaw playing off each other to create a narrative that is very much urgent and hard not to face.
A great example of this can be found in ‘Insubordinate Ingerland’ using satire to challenge patriotism. Using phrases like “England till I die” and urging listeners to “stop your dreaming and drink your pint”. Not ones to keep everything close to home Hot Milk also take aim internationally with ‘The American Machine’ Mee tells us “a kiss and a hug and an F-15” seemingly pointing to the hypocrisy of America's media amongst other gripes. Making sure the nation knows “you’re half the world away / and thats too fucking close to me.” The track is hard hitting and not just lyrically but musically with its mix of punk metal and industrial electronics.
Production wise, Corporation P.O.P. is sonically layered. Producer Zakk Cervini strikes a balance between arena sized riffs and intimate synths. The electronics themselves don’t overpower the drums and guitars. Vocally, there's a mix of screams and sounds that are crisp and clear. Each track has been crafted for the best impact making sure that what Hot Milk came to say is not lost in the wind.
This coming-of-age album is for you if you are a fan of Bring Me The Horizon, Stand Atlantic or maybe even VUKOVI. It's hard to pin down a sounds-like band for such an expansively versatile project. If you're young, frustrated, and unhappy with the state of politics, this record will resonate with you. Or if you can remember when you were any of those things, it's well worth a listen… on repeat.
Corporation P.O.P. is more than just a band going heavy, it’s Hot Milk's most daring collection of songs yet. It is well suited to listening to live at any of their upcoming tour dates or just vibing to at home. Be sure not to let this revolution pass you by.
Cat Wiltshire
★★★★☆
