June, 27th, 2022
Written by Dani Riddle

THE MYSTERINES' DEBUT ALBUM "REELING" SHOWCASES A DISTINCT AND CAPTIVATING VISION

Lia Metcalfe started writing songs when she was 9. Now, 11 years later, she’s the singer/guitarist and primary songwriter for The Mysterines, a band whose unique, infectious sound and earworm hooks have them rising quickly through the ranks of modern alt rock artists. On the Zoom press conference call, she comes across as self possessed and has a notable intensity, even though she looks relaxed seated next to band bassist George Favager. Almost every question is related to their debut album, Reeling, which was released earlier this year on March 11.

Reeling is a remarkably strong debut album, featuring a cohesion and strength of vision that might take other artists several projects to fully develop. Before this album release, The Mysterines only had a few songs published on major platforms: four from their 2019 EP, Take Control, and one single titled Love’s Not Enough. And yet, The Mysterines already have a strong and distinct stylistic voice on Reeling, one with something to say. Maybe this can be attributed to the amount of time the album had to marinate, due mostly to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Reeling’s 13 tracks were recorded in 3 weeks, split up over 2 years.

The album’s coherence can also be summed up in its name, as Metcalfe explained: “I wanted it to be one word, and I think we all enjoyed the song ‘Reeling’ quite a lot. It sums the record up, everything that was trying to be said is in that song. The definition of ‘reeling’ is like so many. If you’re angry, you can be described as reeling. If you’re upset, you can be described as reeling. If you’re grieving, you’re reeling. It just felt pretty connected to everything and inspired the whole album in some way.” 

Metcalfe also described her vision for the album cover, which was distinct from the start. “I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like,” and she adds that it was shot with the help of a photographer friend. She goes on to describe her thought process behind the imagery, saying that her goal was to create a situation that felt like it could be equally sexual or violent in a way that was up for interpretation. “I like that you can’t really tell,” she said. 

The album’s material explains this concept further, with lyrics that focus on just how intertwined the experiences of love and pain can be. “Your kiss is tough to resist/That cruelness on your lips” Metcalfe sings in the album’s second track, Hung Up. Her vocals are soulful and deep, full of an underlying power. Her writing revolves around melodies and hooks that hammer in the emotional weight of the lyrics. Some of the band’s biggest influences are The Velvet Underground, The Strokes, Radiohead, and Bob Dylan, artists that are not usually associated with the genre of hard rock that The Mysterines is known for, but whose impact is reflected in Metcalfe’s lyricism and storytelling skills.

Dangerous is one of Reeling’s most popular tracks and exemplifies the kind of calculated, self aware angst that the band does best. The chorus, backed with driving electric guitar chords, is catchy as all hell, and the way that well placed riffs compliment the vocals is more satisfying on each re-listen. Another popular track, Life’s a Bitch (But I Like it So Much) adds a dark sense of humor to the song’s manic spiraling, which culminates in a bridge of almost unintelligible shouting.

On Reeling, Lia Metcalfe and The Mysterines approach familiar concepts like self sabotage and toxic love from new angles, asking new questions. The result is a sometimes painful authenticity that you can’t look (or listen) away from.

And yes, they did get their name from the mouthwash.


Big thanks to 1824* and Capitol Records for hosting the press conference.