More from this Toronto band, which has been sailing the goth/darkwave/industrial/metal/whatever seas for quite some time now. Back in the day, bands often stuck to their lanes. But the emergence of the more crunchy darkwave sound around the turn of the millennium has allowed bands to mix and match much more effectively. The anthemic choruses tossed on top of this shredding, synthy salad make for a most delicious album.

The Birthday Massacre Pathways (Metropolis)

So, yes, the stuff is catchy and throttling all at once. The band is well-versed at shifting gears, and it's not afraid to lean into one influence or another depending on the needs of the song. These are all-encompassing symphonies of gorgeous pounding. Clocking in at just past 33 minutes, this is a relatively short outing, but one without a miss.

That said, the pop elements are front and center. You can dance to this, you can pound your skull into the wall to this--and you could just sit and bathe in the glory. Those who prefer to stick to just one of those things at once will likely get their heads spun around. But judging by the early reception to this album, there are plenty who like sugar with their vinegar (and vice versa).

Me, I'm a bather. I like to let everything wash over me as my mind gets lost. The Birthday Massacre has been at this for quite a while, and that experience has resulted in an album that fully delivers without too many surprises. Sometimes an album strikes dead center on a sound. The Birthday Massacre has been on target for some time, and this set continues that streak. Pretty blood, and bloody pretty.

Jon Worley