Crush Forever There’s something to be said when a band recognizes their strengths as a unit and hones in on those qualities that make them special. Metric have returned with their tenth studio album, Romanticize the Dive, that finds the band reuniting with Synthetica and Fantasies producer Gavin Brown. It’s easy to see how this trusted partnership pays off in the music as Metric continue to strengthen their songwriting all over this solid effort. While this record may not have the runaway success of Fantasies or more recently, Art of Doubt, Romanticize the Dive is comfortable in revisiting the band’s humble beginnings and offering subtle advice for others to follow to benefit their mental health and overall well-being.
”Victim of Luck” was an obvious choice of a lead single with its upbeat nature, reflective past in the lyrics, and strategic sequencing as the opener on Metric’s tenth album. Lead singer Emily Haines takes the listener on a journey through her past as she begins with, “Let me take you back, it was the start of something / I was there not long before all the stardom / Now I’m in front of you and all I’m seeing is all my flaws / I was a starving artist but I was fearless,” before later focusing on the same vulnerabilities and anxieties many artists share: “Now I don’t know what we are, frightened of heights we knew / Scared to go too far, how I might look to you / Now who have I become, trash that mirror let my black mascara run.” It’s a fun way to open the LP, and Metric’s self-awareness comes across as genuine and authentic. “Wild Rut” goes through a journey of its own through some orchestral synths and big-sounding production from James Smith, and a punishing drumbeat from Joules Scott-Key. Haines explains her state of mind in the back half of the chorus, “You are exactly like me / We spiral down and down we go / Come up eventually / Sucks for a while though.” It’s almost as if she’s giving advice to her former self, or putting out a path for others in similar situations to learn from. Either way, it’s pretty captivating material.
”Time Is A Bomb” was the second track to be released as a single from the set, and it follows a pretty straightforward song structure/path with falsetto vocals in the tail end of each chorus line, and a steady beat behind each of Haines’ lyrics. As the song unfolds, Haines explains, “I am always down to be the number tattooed on your mind / You’ll find the others fading to grey / I am always down but never under with you on the line / I’ll take whatever’s coming my way,” before later gushing over a somber piano part to close out the single gracefully. “Crush Forever” ended up being my favorite song in the entire set with its angelic vocal opening that bleeds into a club-ready smash of a song with great programming/synths from Smith. Haines’ vocal cadence matches perfectly in sync with the synths and she commands the song with a stunning star quality.
”Tremolo” finds Haines looking at her past missteps as she laments on the chorus, “It’s a slippery slippery slope, honey / Instead of asking for answers, dance with me / It’s a slippery, slippery slope, honey / Circumstance is a bastard” to paint a picture of an artist recognizing her faults while still asking the audience to let her be herself and dance their troubles away with the band. “Moral Compass” is another key moment in the set that allows for Metric to hone in on their strengths as a band and leaning into a heavier, reflective tone. Haines ponders, “Fate is always punching with an open hand / How do I withstand uncertainty when living makes a killing off of me? / I let karma calculate worthy rewards and penalties / And I embrace my temporary destiny.” These deeply introspective lyrics are well-written and still leave a sliver of mystery to them for longtime fans to try and decode the meaning behind them.
”As If You’re Here” has an upbeat sound to it and features another stunning vocal performance from Haines. I found the section of the song where Haines shares, “I tried constant positivity / I tried toxic constant positivity / No, it really doesn’t work for me / The illusion proved to be worse than the truth / So I play this song to picture you,” to be utterly brilliant in its composition and the specific lyric of “The illusion proved to be worse than the truth” really struck me as deep. “Loyal” is dripping with heavier synths and a rich bass line from Joshua Winstead, while Haines sweet-sounding vocals provide the perfect contrast in sounds to make for a balanced song. “Antigravity” finds Haines floating above the pressure of constantly delivering great material that fans of Metric have become accustomed to, since the band does it so effortlessly. Metric lean into their breakneck work ethic as Haines sings, “I don’t wanna quit, I don’t wanna calm down / I don’t want a vacation, hit your stride,” to showcase how the band isn’t comfortable with sitting still.
”Clouds To Break” points back to the earlier parts of Romanticize the Dive as Haines croons, “Busted moral compass, shallow grave / Nothing buried, nothing gained / Strip of sunset out of light / Darkness by the hour of five.” The concept of a moral compass is clearly on her mind throughout the writing process of this record, and she finds the light at the end of the tunnel by the time we reach the closer of “Leave You On A High” that achieves the song’s lofty goals for itself. The lyric of “We’re all looking for the keys to heaven in a state of mind / And I will be the one to find it all,” is as confident as Haines and her bandmates would ever boast to be, and yet it never comes across as overconfidence. Instead, Metric prove to be one of the most consistent bands in the music scene and show very little signs of slowing down anytime soon.