SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BAD WAITRESS – IN THE HOLLOW

BAD WAITRESS
IN THE HOLLOW
STOMP RECORDS

Toronto-based punk mainstays Bad Waitress have made their long-awaited return with their second full-length album, In The Hollow. The record is their first major release in five years, following their debut album, No Taste. Reflecting on an introspective and personal period,  In The Hollow takes a darker turn as Bad Waitress expands their established sound by leaning deeper into art and post punk to effective degree.

“I Only Like You When I’m Drunk” opens the record with a dissonant, stumbling riff. The song explodes wide open with a chorus that emerges abruptly with a tempo shift as the band aggressively thrashes forward. The chorus is incredibly jarring and should command your attention entirely and immediately. This single shift sets the tone for In The Hollow as a record accented by an unpredictable and thrilling air of volatility. This is further seen in the next track, “45,” a song that merges a disjointed, jangly verse with an anthemic chorus that revels in its own catchiness.

Despite the abrasive tones that are pervasive throughout In The Hollow, there is a level of dedication to embrace the alternative, making for a far more experimental performance that one may have expected. Whether it be the thunderous, start and stop pulse of the title track or by taking inspiration from Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala on “I Wish I Was A Mars Volta.” The result is an album that feels dangerous as Bad Waitress leads the listener through unsuspecting passages taking every left turn they seemingly can. In addition to these tracks, and the opening pair of songs, highlights include the Nirvana-esque “Loving Kind,” and the sludgy, droning “Blood Valley.”

Bad Waitress avoids the sophomore slump on In The Hollow, a fantastic album that sees the band expand their sound and sonic identity while remaining true to their roots and their raw power. The incredibly intense album feels equal parts vulnerable and aggressive, marking a unique dynamic between the writing, lyricism, and performance. By walking a fine line, Bad Waitress continues to demonstrate their worth as one of the most exciting up and coming punk bands of our time.

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