Rank: 4/5
Savages’ sophomore album, “Adore Life,” is an excitingly loud, harsh look at the concept of love which surges with intensity from beginning to end.
The post-punk band emerged out of London in 2011, and instantly gained the public’s attention with their frenzied live shows and their controversial lyrics.
Everything that made Savages appeal to the masses with their critically acclaimed debut album, “Silence Yourself,” is present on this new record. Their sound includes dark, atmospheric melodies, chaotic guitars and frontwoman Jehnny Beth’s electrifying vocal performances.
“Adore Life” is an album entirely about love, but it is written from a very different perspective when compared to typical love songs. Savages’ extremely powerful and commanding approach to love is evident as soon as the album opens.
“If you don’t love me, you don’t love anybody,” Beth chants on “The Answer,” the album’s intro track.
“The Answer” is a chaotic start to an equally chaotic album. The next track, “Evil,” sees Savages return to its anti-establishment, anti-uniformity roots. This track came off as a call to society’s perceived outcasts to continue doing what they’re doing and to keep thinking for themselves.
One of the most moving moments on the album is the ballad “Adore.” In this track, Beth wonders if it is normal to adore life despite all of the horrific things that are constantly occurring in the world.
“I understand the urgency of life,” Beth wails on this track. “Maybe I will die, maybe tomorrow, so I need to say ‘I adore life.’”
Here, Beth is noting how short and urgent life truly is. She understands that her days are numbered and that the only thing she can do is adore life as much as possible while she’s still here.
“Adore” is one of the slower moments on the album, but it packs just as much punch as the rest of the project.
Savages aims to be as loud and unflinching as possible with this project and, for the most part, they’re largely successful. Throughout the entirety of my listening experience with “Adore Life,” it’s easy to find yourself wishing you were experiencing Savages’ explosion of sound live.
For those looking for an incredibly satisfying post-punk experience that offers a powerful message and some beautifully atmospheric instrumentation, “Adore Life” is the perfect recommendation.