Releasedate: 21-08-2026 Label: Loma Vista Records
If I close my eyes, I can still feel the shivers running up my spine when I saw Chelsea Wolfe at Hellfest in 2024, the year she released the gorgeous “She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She”, and the rain falling at that moment in Clisson perfectly complemented the atmosphere the Californian witch was aiming to create.
Two years later, she returns with “The Dark,” this time with a different persona. Stripping her music of most of the electronic elements found on its predecessor, she delivers an album about heartache that is, at the same time, the brightest of her career.
Although it sounds like she’s “in pain”, The Dark is perhaps an attempt by the artist to attract an audience from lighter genres of music.
But one thing is dead-certain: although Chelsea Wolfe’s ninth album will disappoint her fans who have grown accustomed to her perpetually dwelling on the dark side of the moon, if you listen to the songs without letting your expectations get in the way, you’ll see that Chelsea Wolfe proves once again that she knows how to write songs, even if they sound like a darker version of Tori Amos.
From her collaborations with King Dude, her early albums, the soundtrack for the film “X,” and her work with Converge, Chelsea has shown that there are no limits to her music, and for that reason, she returns with an almost dream pop aesthetic that is stunning in its own right.
In addition to Chelsea herself and her longtime collaborator, Ben Chisholm, the production also features Jennifer Decilveo, who has worked with artists like Hozier and Miley Cyrus, a fact that explains the shift in the Californian musician’s sound. The result is a high-quality album with the potential to be nominated for awards, and the list of people who contributed to the album is also noteworthy. Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age), Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, Nine Inch Nails), Matt Chamberlain, and Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint) each added their own touch to this beautiful result that takes Chelsea Wolfe to a whole new level.
“The Dark” may not have the intensity and mysticism of her past work, yet I can’t stop listening to it. Is it the incredible production, the unique simplicity of the arrangements (it sounds simple but isn’t quite that simple), or Miss Wolfe’s powerful voice? I can’t say for sure, but from the opening of “Cold”, which showcases her piercing vocal prowess, through the outbursts of “Swallower” and the album’s most electric track, “Turn the Key,” Chelsea Wolfe offers master classes in the art of creating dark music in the light.
Perhaps that last phrase doesn’t make much sense to you, but when you listen to “The Dark” for the first time, I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean. Whether you’ll like what you hear, however, is a matter of personal taste.
As for me, I’m a simple person. I listen, and if I’m moved, I show my appreciation to the musicians with love. So Chelsea has my wholehearted love once again.
Line up:
- Chelsea Wolfe: Vocals and guitars
- Robin Finck: Guitar/musician (Nine Inch Nails)
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen: Bass/contributions
- Matt Chamberlain: Drums and percussion
- Stella Mozgawa: Drums (Warpaint)
- Kælan Mikla: Additional guest contributions
Tracklist
- Cold
- Seethe
- Humours
- Swallower
- Halo
- The Dark
- Turn the Key
- I’m Not There
- Death Is Not The End
- Dancer in the Sky