Max Pope has released, “Love Is Dead,” a brand new single about the deep human hunger for connection, and the primal rage that can take over without love. This heavy, multi-genre track is flavored with grunge, post-punk, and even jazz and soul.
The song follows closely behind Pope’s April release, “borderline,” which played with a lighter soundscape, sporting a hazier wash of synthesizers and seventh chords. While “borderline” delved more into funk and psychedelic pop, Pope is undaunted by the dark side in “Love Is Dead.”
The stompy rhythm paired with the oscillating bass line almost reminds me of Nirvana’s “In Bloom.” The song is packed with texture, with each interlude offering a new combination of sounds. The London singer-songwriter illustrates the many-layered experience of surrendering to a higher power. While heavy, the lyrics are very narrative (“There’s a man on the corner screamin, ‘Love is Dead’ / Praise to the Lord is what he said / animal kickin’ round in my head / animal, there’s an animal”). Pope shared in a statement:
“Sometimes the only thing left that sounds appealing is the idea of surrendering to a God. The animal kicking round in our heads, living somewhere within us all, feels to me ‘Godlike’. I offer it a place at the table and honour its instincts, in all his primal glory.”
The highlight of the song is near the 3-minute mark, building up into an explosive bridge that suddenly retreats to a haunting outro. Ending with a juxtaposition of wobbly synths and angelic backing vocals with an anguished, gravelly lead melody, it’s an artful use of buildup and tension.
“Love Is Dead” is available to stream wherever you listen to music.
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