When Melissa Bonny announced her debut solo album, ‘Cherry Red Apocalypse,’ many ideas came to mind about what to expect. From charismatic vocals to violent growls and grinding guitars to pounding drums, all seemed likely to grace the album in some form or another. What didn’t seem probable was a large selection of pop-rock tracks.
Surprisingly, these pop-laced gems are exactly what we got.
That isn’t to say that Bonny’s typical fare doesn’t make it on this mixtape. There are more than a few headbanging moments to enjoy with a snarl or two before even hitting the 2-minute mark. But what really stands out are the upbeat, pop-driven tracks that would be out of place on a typical Ad Infitium record.
Starting with the first track, “I’m a Monster,” Bonny launches into her familiar singing voice before ripping into the line “You think I’m a lie” like a lion on an antelope carcass. It’s enough to send shivers down your spine. As mentioned earlier, this is typical fare from the singer, exactly what one would expect from the artist, and in the best way possible.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of being hated by someone who barely even knows you. They want to see you go down based on mere opinions, not solid facts.
“Snake Bite” keeps up the pace, hard, heavy, and in your face. The addition of artist Yu Umehara attaches another layer of depth to the already excellent song. The fact that she sings in a different language does nothing to detract from the tune.
Here, Melissa Bonny speaks of weak attacks against a more powerful creature. Oftentimes, people come at us with violent words and vicious sentiments, but in the end, these things do very little to harm us. It is like a snake biting a dragon — barely even noticeable.
“Devil On My Tongue” is the first song to give us a glimpse into what the entire album is about: pop-rock. Without losing its metal accent in the guitar work, the vocals lean heavily toward pop territory. Now, Bonny has always been known for her singing as much as her snarl, but here we get well-polished ohhs and ahhs that would fit just as perfectly at home on a Brittney Spears album as they do here.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Bonny’s vocals are quite suited for the genre. It’s just that the surprise switch-up seems to come from out of nowhere.
“The Teeth Of My Thieves” keeps up the vibe freshly established but adds in an epic guitar solo for good measure. While not exactly sounding like it, this track feels like a rock ballad. Slow parts mix evenly with the heavy parts, creating the catchiest song thus far.
This song is about being deeply attracted to something. Sometimes in life, we allow something or someone to sink their teeth into us. We try to pull away, but by then, we are too deep in their control.
It becomes a life-or-death fight, that even if we survive, we end up looking like a damn fool.
“Afterglow” adds a pop-punk sound to the album. This shows the versatility of Bonny’s voice by being able to cover so many genres flawlessly. A record full of pop-punk songs does not seem out of the question.
You can’t kill a dragon with a snake bite (uh).
Similar to other songs already on the track listing, this song is about overcoming the bitter thoughts in our minds that were planted by other people. We need to battle and defeat this negativity to bask in the afterglow. Sometimes happiness has to be chosen.
“High and Lows” covers the ups and downs of life. Life can feel like a rollercoaster at times, whipping us around at wild speeds and nearly giving us whiplash. In retrospect, these highs and lows create a beautiful symphony that we call life.
We cannot have the good without the bad because they accent each other. To know one, we must experience the other.
“Cherry Red Apocalypse” brings it back to another heavily pop-influenced song with a pretty yet simple beat to sing along to.
The lyrics speak of losing control in the best way. We get so bogged down in preconceived notions, complicated emotions, and other people’s ideas that we forget how to enjoy our lives.
By letting go of all of these things, we can create a gorgeous apocalypse, the end of our world of negativity, and a rebirth into something new and totally different. Not simply careless but carefree.
“Oh No!” is about embracing the chaos in your mind. We feed the monsters in our brains with little thought to the consequences, and we accept it all as the hell we call home.
These are endless cycles we live in, and sometimes we feel helpless to stop them. Fortunately, we can sometimes use these habits to our benefit, but we need to choose the chaos we keep wisely.
“Snow on Mars” closes out the album with one final pop-rock track. A song sung with great passion and beauty, and quite honestly, a perfect selection to round out the album.
This track appears to be a completely fictional story about running away on the moonlight and seeing the snow on Mars. A deeper meaning may be hidden there somewhere, but it escapes me even after a handful of listens. Nonetheless, the imagery creates a mesmerizing landscape that won’t soon be forgotten.
Ultimately, ‘Cherry Red Apocalypse’ is a wonderful album that gets better with each listen. The variety will keep you from getting too bored — even if pop-rock isn’t your cup of tea.
If you are in the mood for something a little out of left field, this album has you covered with a unique combination of rock, metal, and pop, all done exceptionally well. Melissa Bonny may not be the most well-known singer this side of Switzerland, but “Cherry Red Apocalypse” should move her up a couple of extra steps on the musical ladder.
What is your favorite track on ‘Cherry Red Apocalypse?’ Let us know in the comments.
Listen to ‘Cherry Red Apocalypse.’
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Charles E. Henning
Self-proclaimed "entertainment guru" Charles E Henning fills his free time reading books, watching movies, and listening to music. While not always up on the latest trends, he is consistently willing to dissect the themes of pop culture.