More about: Halsey

Halsey is restrained with their vast new-found well of power on brand new album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power. Polished, genre-bold production meet a rebellious spirit for a 13-track ride through darker themes and inspirations. 

The melancholy keys of opener 'The Tradition' combine with a Medieval ditty melody to pour the listener into the world of the cover art: one in which women and non-binary people seethe with fury and untapped power. 

'Bells in Santa Fe' begins to unleash some of that anger with beautiful control before it spills over completely in track three. 'Easier than Lying' is a standout with its emo-tinged alternative nous, helped along by the production duties of Trent Reznor and some ferocious drumming. It's break-up balm that feeds into the album title somewhat: can't have love? Take power.

It's interesting that Halsey does not continue this thrashing, spilling forth emotion in a similar vein through the rest of the album. Their choice instead to regain control does after all represent power far more than blind fury does...especially when the lyrics lose none of their bite.

'Lilith' imparts advice over an uncanny, glitching soundscape before 'Girl is a Gun' fires on all cylinders, Drum and Bass'ing its way through just over two minutes of clichés that still manage to sound somewhat fresh in Halsey's mouth (do clichés belong to Halsey?). Had If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power had singles, this would have undoubtedly been one. 

Poppier track 'honey' is classic Halsey, somewhat deviating from the momentum of the album, though production keeps it on track. The folksy mid-track 'Darling' though, is a bizarre interruption that trips things up. Perhaps, like closer 'Ya'aburnee', it's a purposeful pause to bask in the power of motherhood. Even so, it feels out of place in a way that the final track does not.  

'Whispers' is particularly effective in its goals: the restrained track is teeming with goosepimple-inducing lyrics (sample: "This is the voice in your head that says 'you do not want this'") that will no doubt be effective in empowering young people who listen to it everywhere. 

The potency of If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power is dampened somewhat by a stray middle track, and while the production is slick to a fault, perhaps some of the album's more vulnerable moments could have benefitted from rawer moments. That being said, this is still a potent album indeed. It shows both a significant development in sound as well as a genuinely empowering beating heart that imparts Halsey's values with impressive ease—and power.

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power is out now. 

More about: Halsey