Laughing in the face of any ‘difficult second album’ clichés, PVRIS have delivered a truly defining album that is sure to solidify their spot in rock’s upper echelons. Again produced by Blake Harnage, All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell is no mere retread of debut White Noise but, instead, pushes into new boundaries both in sounds and themes. Whereas their first album was preoccupied with the supernatural, on AWKOHAWNOH Lynn Gunn looks deep within herself and confronts the painful realities of life and love.

As the album begins with early single ‘Heaven’, it teeters on the edge of being pure electropop until the chorus comes crashing in with thundering drums and Alex Babinski’s searing guitar lines. The sheer emotion in Gunn’s voice as she roars “You took my heaven away” is spine-tingling, wringing every ounce of frustration and rage out of the lyrics. Though the first half of the album is upbeat musically, there is a tangible darkness lying underneath lyrically. ‘Half’ is a great example of this, with its 200mph beat and rhythm juxtaposed with Gunn singing “Some days I feel everything, others are numbing/I never wanted to be here now, one foot in the grave, other on the ground.” Speaking to Kerrang earlier this year, she was honest about her battles with depression and this album feels like a brutally honest reflection of that. Throughout, there are important messages saying that it is OK to not feel OK, incredibly powerful statements that will emotionally resound with countless listeners around the world.

Sonically, the sound has undergone a huge expansion from their earlier work. It brings a sensation that, whereas other albums may be created in a studio, no space in the world could possibly contain AWKOHAWNOH. It is IMAX4D in a world of black and white, but it never feels too much or drowns the mix with too much distraction. PVRIS have now perfected their sound, colliding irresistible electropop hooks into what is, at times, a heavy rock foundation. This duality extends throughout the album, with earth-shattering crescendos sliding into quiet, reflective finales on many of the tracks. So many bands at present blur those lines between pop and rock, but none as effectively as PVRIS demonstrate here.

This is a band that is forging unbreakable emotional attachments between fan and group, both with their online presence but also with a willingness to show their vulnerability and self-doubts on record. On ‘What’s Wrong’, Gunn sings: “I don’t need a metaphor for you to know I’m miserable”, while the much slower ‘Walk Alone’ speaks of the end of a relationship where Gunn can “Feel the weight of the world, stay cold and watch it burn”. On ‘No Mercy’, there is “Blood in the water, but it tastes so sweet”. The lyrics are sure to be pored over extensively, but this is far from a downbeat album in mood and more a very adult reflection of life’s travails. After a very slight mid-album lull, AWKOHAWNOH comes roaring back with the aforementioned ‘No Mercy’, which will be troubling moshpits at festivals near you soon, and the sensational ‘Separate’.

Intimate, engrossing, wearing their scars with pride, this is a major landmark for PVRIS. It marks the exact moment where a major act redefines the music landscape around themselves rather than attempting to fit into any existing ‘scene’. With one foot in heaven and one foot in hell, this is now their scene and we are just visiting it. It is both exactly what you need, and all that you will know.

Jamie MacMillan

Website – pvris.com
Facebook – facebook.com/PVRISBandMa
Twitter – twitter.com/ThisIsPVRIS