SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – DIAMONDS

The Birthday Massacre
Diamonds
Metropolis Records

Toronto natives The Birthday Massacre present their signature sound of electronic synth-inspired pop-rock in the form of their eighth studio album Diamonds. This purple gem is full of what long-term Birthday Massacre fans have come to love – fantastical lyrics that play on the light and darkness of life accentuated by lead singer Chibi’s innocent and youthful voice.

Musically, Rainbow and M. Falcore on guitars provide the rock edge that blends seamlessly with Owen’s electronic elements on keyboards creating a sound very reminiscent of ‘80s synth pop. This is music that brings a crowd to a dance floor, something you can lose yourself in.

Diamonds is quite a pretty album with songs that are new but definitely in the same vein of classic Birthday Massacre offerings. The tracks “The Last Goodbye” and “The Sky Will Turn” are songs that sound like they would be right at home on any of their prior albums.

Thematically, it would be great if The Birthday Massacre would step back into the darker side of their repertoire and release more tracks that are darker, grittier. When they released “Blue” in 2005, fans ate up Chibi’s sinister growl that she paired with her classic sweet vocals. It’d be great to hear more from the band coming from that direction. “Superstition” and “Destroyer” from their 2014 album Superstition definitely dove into the more mysterious and eerie side of their music. Similar to that on Diamonds would be “Flashback”, “Crush”, and “Mirrors”.

Overall, Diamonds is a solid Birthday Massacre album to listen and dance to with songs that will surely be ones DJs will want to add to their rotation. It’d be great to hear darker, more sinister, and overall edgier music from them, and it does seem like they are leaning in that direction.

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