Pale Waves – Unwanted

The Mancunian quartet unapologetically embrace openness and confidence across a catalogue of anthemic pop-punk singalongs

Album Review by Dylan Tuck | 08 Aug 2022
  • Pale Waves – Unwanted
Album title: Unwanted
Artist: Pale Waves
Label: Dirty Hit
Release date: 12 Aug

“I didn’t want any of those jangly, picky, high-up-on-the-fretboard guitars,” vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie declares in a recent press release. “I wanted heavy distortion and chaos and power.” If 2021's Who Am I? didn’t already confirm it, Pale Waves are now unapologetically punk-rock.

With each release, the Mancunian quartet get more personal, honest and, most importantly, more themselves. Unwanted – a title representing the experiences of their LGBTQI+ following – is no different. Swimming through sincere subjects of queer love and lacking belonging and approval, Baron-Gracie displays growth as a lyricist and sticks a middle finger up to the doubters.

Avril Lavigne-esque noughties alt-rock was ubiquitous on their previous record and remains prominent here too (You’re So Vain, Clean, Without You), while knitted with more modern, polished pop-punk (Reasons To Live, Unwanted), thanks to powerful production courtesy of scene royalty, Zakk Cervini.

Among the record’s riotous successes, The Hard Way – while powerful, poignant, and with an explosive conclusion – halts momentum early, and a few later tracks don’t quite land the punches that others do. Still, the band's maturity is audible for all ears, as Pale Waves continue to carve their own path and embrace their best fiery and forthright version of themselves.

Listen to: Unwanted, Reasons To Live, Clean

http://palewaves.co.uk