Review | Pop Evil – What Remains

MNRK Music Group

Pop Evil, formed in 2001, is back with their eighth full-length studio album called ‘What Remains’. I am sure that this new album will solidify Pop Evil’s status as a consistent rock/metal force. I simply was blown away by Pop Evil’s albums ‘Onyx’ (2013) and ‘Up’ (2015), which highlighted the band’s anthemic power with melodic hooks for 100%. However, on their 2023 release ‘Skeletons’ Pop Evil “changed” their sound, as the music on that album was a mixed hybrid of hard rock and heavy modern metal.

HEAVIEST ALBUM BY FAR

Two years later now, Pop Evil releases its heaviest album by far. The ten songs on ‘What Remains’ are full of raw energy, hard hitting guitar riffs and aggressive vocals galore. In fact, Leigh Kakaty’s vocal performance on ‘What Remains’ is stronger than ever. Mixing 100% pure aggression with lots of emotion; while the furious, searing guitar solos and heavy riffs do the rest.

The title track features one of Pop Evil’s catchiest and also melodically beautiful choruses, while it is also a unique and very experimental song, as you can hear industrial soundscapes and different vocal patterns. ,,What Remains” further features 100% metalcore riffs making it also their heaviest song by far. So, in other words: play it F… LOUD and you will love it.

METAL ANTHEM

However, follow up, called: ,,Wishful Thinking” is even better, and it is my personal favorite of this impressive album. It is an absolute metal anthem, a future live staple for sure. A track that has all the best Pop Evil ingredients, meaning: an addictive melody and chorus, a vortex of scything guitar riffs and a raw, driving rhythm that males you want to bang your head forever….

Lyrically, ‘What Remains’ is a search of recoil, self-finding, an introspective collection of chapters in Kakaty’s journey, making it a very human record. Overall, it’s an enthusiastic, heavy, hard-hitting album. A volcanic eruption, featuring super melodic emotional choruses and extreme heavy guitar riffs galore.

POP EVIL – IN CONCLUSION

‘What Remains’ certainly proves that Pop Evil is still very much alive and kicking. This Michigan-based band is still a powerful force to be reckoned with. The only “negative” thing I can say about this album is that it is way TOO short, as the entire album clocks in just over thirty-four minutes. But then again you can push the repeat button and enjoy this impressive album once more….

Release date: 21 March 2025