Album Review: The Veronicas – Gothic Summer
2 min read
Since their debut in 2004, The Veronicas have made a name for themselves in the Pop Punk halls of fame, with their energetic sound and self-aware lyrics. The identical twin duo returned this year with their sixth studio album Gothic Summer, their first album since the double release of Godzilla and Human in 2021. Coming just in time for summer 2024, Gothic Summer is a call back to the pair’s beginnings influenced heavily by the early 2000s and the music the two listened to growing up.
The album opens with Perfect a single released last year. It marks a clear return to their pop-punk roots, after the more traditional pop of Human, with a cheerfully nihilistic tone. Opening with the line “You can’t take champagne to the grave” the song references the Gothic of the album’s title pairing the darker lyrics with an infectious pop beat.
Detox leans more heavily into the punk of pop-punk with a rapid beat and more intense vocals. The Veronicas cited The Cramps as a major influence on this album and Detox is the song that shows this inspiration most clearly, with the almost buzzing baseline reminiscent of Human Fly.
With Here to Dance they return to electro-pop and an early 2000s-inspired sound that wouldn’t be out of place on their debut Hook Me Up. However, the growth in production and vocals in the two decades that separate the albums is evident here, allowing them to show their progression.
Savage pairs a ballad-style opening with a solid drumline and catchy chorus, at the halfway point of the album it marks a change in pace and a move to more emotive lyrics. It’s followed by Invisible and Ribcage which are more personal and paired back songs detailing themes of inadequacy, and loss. However, the layered vocals in Ribcage bring the pair’s talents to the forefront allowing them to show off their impressive range.
Jungle brings back the pop-punk in the final song of the album. The narrative lyrics and ironic tone make it a fun deviation and return to the darkly comedic tone of Perfect. The Veronicas described the albums as having an element of “Social Commentary” and this is the song where it most shines through, addressing sexism and indulging in cheerful revenge fantasies.
At only seven songs long, Gothic Summer is short but sweet. For fans of The Veronicas, this is a great return to form, and the clever lyricism and infectious sound will be sure to make new listeners into fans. Despite their chart success in Australia The Veronicas still have yet to find an audience worldwide. However, with this album, they may have their best shot yet.
