The innovative Savannah Pope joins forces with Nine Inch Nails producer Sean Beavan for her new album, Pandemonium.

By Graeme Smith

I first discovered Savannah’s music for this blog in 2018, but there’s been a bit of a gap since we last shared any of her work. Her new album Pandemonium has been described as her most personal work to date, inspired by her experience of losing a friend to suicide and her own battles with mental health. Through it, she invites the listener to reflect on their mental wellbeing.

The album starts in reflective fashion with short piano introduction De Eso No Se Habla before we journey into brooding, operatic title track Pandemonium. This opening duet tells us right away that we’re in for something different from Savannah’s album.

Just Another Day takes things in a soulful direction, with elements of R&B mixing into Savannah’s signature pop rock. Single Freeway is an early highlight. It ups the energy with its classic rock swagger, and Savannah weaves an immersive tale with her lyrics.

Sick and Melancholic Goddess, too, prove highlights on an album with no real lowlights. The former is bright and macabre and has plenty of narrative. The latter simmers early on, giving plenty of space to the expressive vocals before hitting hard with powerful percussion.

As we reach the album’s latter stages, with get the punchy Orchid, dizzying piano interlude One Thing Leads to Another, the heavy-hitting Big Black Hole, and the visceral Americana of Slice of Life. Live Your Strange closes the album with vulnerability, combining delicate piano with cathartic lyrics.

Savannah Pope has nailed it with her new album. She combines relatable storytelling and powerful, nuanced pop rock to deliver a collection with no filler. She truly is a star.

Pandemonium is set for release Friday 27 September 2024. You can pre-save it here.

Keep in touch with Savannah on Spotify, Instagram, and YouTube.