Catching Up/Intro
As you might have gathered from the title this is the band’s third album and also the last part of a trilogy of albums surrounding a certain character called Psychoberrie, who is a very ill young lady as well as a serial killer.
I reviewed their second album back in 2020 called Metamorphosis which, despite being the second part is really the first part! You can read my thoughts on it HERE. I fell in love with the album in 2020 and it is still one that I regularly go back and play as it works so well conceptually as well as being a bloody great listen.
Now I admit to worrying about how the band could follow it. Would they try and do a part 2 of that? That to me seemed a dangerous move as it would immediately be compared. Or they could do something completely different that might not work but at least be different and original. Again that might have been a disappointment. Yes, I was worried as I really wanted to love what was to come. So how did they do? Is it similar or different? How does it compare? Finally, is part 3 ACTUALLY part 3? Read on to find out!
Are You Confused Yet? Imagine Poor Psychoberrie
First things first. Part 3 is in fact part 2. Part 2 is part 1. Are you confused? Welcome to Ms Psychberrie‘s world! This is the link from her release from the horrific psychiatric hospital for the crime of murdering her mother in Metamorphosis to her finding someone to do the murdering for her, ala Charles Manson in the debut album called The Art Of Manipulation.
This new album has 13 tracks, 3 of which are linking pieces, interludes that help the story along. I will admit I have found this a little harder to follow than the last one, but on each listen I am getting a little more understanding of the concept. I think there is only one song that I am still not sure what it means, or how it links (maybe I am being a bit thick on it) but the rest is super interesting.
If you are someone who isn’t interested in themes and storytelling then I can say to you that this album is pretty darned heavy with plenty of riffs, hard thudding drums and has some danceable sections to mosh or party to. If you just care about music there is much to enjoy as they push the boat out even further than before. What genre is it? It is Ward XVI basically, they can do what they want and they do it really very well indeed.
Freedom? Or Still A Prisoner?
It opens with news reports of her release, which are read over some psychedelic sounding keys and electronics. From moment one it sounds
ominous. The song “Regeneration” has a Middle Eastern sound to it when it kicks in. From the lyrics it sounds like the good old general public are slightly worried that she might not be cured having “locked their doors“. The chanted vocal along with the guitar line near the end is full of Eastern promise…. or rather threat! Well, the chorus does say “Welcome to the last day of your life“.
Second song “Into The Wilderness” captures the panic of being released, a world that has moved on, being isolated as you try to make your way after your time. Imagine the panic of being released from jail, then imagine it being a unit that runs tests of a dubious nature going into your brain. When she sings about wishing she had “killed myself” the suggestion is not before her first crime or her abusive childhood but before coming out into the world. Dark and disturbing. Lyrics are spat out. I do like the way that the voices underneath her vocals near the start sing “freedom” yet she doesn’t feel free. This is the first use I believe of Rico Rameres on vocals too, as he asks questions and she answers near the end of the track.
Questions, So Many Questions
“What’s In The Box” is part of a theme they have used before, including onstage. It starts like children’s nursery rhyme music and mixes that up with sort of sea shanty style music which I imagine will cause plenty of dancing in the crowd when played live. “Macabaret” is a beezer. With gang style vocals and a catchy as hell chorus along with an excellent Doktor Von Stottenstein guitar solo (more on him later) which goes from flashy to melodic to wild and crazy which kind of sums up the band in general. At one point with the hand claps and the vocals it turns into a gospel vibe. I did say they go new places musically on this didn’t I?
One of the questions I have (I have it regularly) is when she sings about “all coming out to play“, is she actually talking about other people who have accepted her into their groups or her multiple personalities? I do not think it is 100% clear, which is fine by me. We do find out she has been accepted by some as the first “Interlude” makes out with some folks “wanting to be me“. She talks about her father who she doesn’t know, is it his box? Is her condition hereditary?
So Many Different Vibes
“Blood Is The New Black” was the second single and is on YouTube so I recommend maybe checking it out rather than me explain it. Suffice to say the good “Dr” is in her sights and the hospital is in need of burning down. Musically this is almost industrial mixed with electronica and you could gothic dance to it as well (2 steps forward 2 steps back and repeat). There is a section that goes reggae and some death metal rapping. Did I mention they like to branch out musically to tell their story? Go watch the video!
“At The Window” has a very different vibe. It has a classical, cinematic feel to it, more mellow yet actually more intimidating. Psychoberrie has headed back up north where she was imprisoned and is now stalking the Doctor and his wife. The way she so matter-of-factly tells of her plans to torture and kill him is more eerie and demonstrates skilful acting, she is very believable as a character. This song is definitely another that the band’s love of Alice Cooper shines through with her displaying sadness yet anger and telling the Doc that now is him seeing “my real face“. The guitar solo soars and the ending is exquisite. Vying for best song on the album for me.
More Musical Surprises
With a title like “I Spit On Your Grave” you would expect a heavy thrashy track. Not so. This is another mellower track with some surprises. The Doctor is not dead and she seems to also have abducted Nurse Betty, both now prisoners facing the same sort of torture inflicted on her for all those years. The latter pleads for her life, offering anything. A request flatly denied! Psychoberrie sounds more manic on this as she tells them they had created “this“. Being contrary buggers the guitar solo is a heavy metal type solo so the complete opposite of the vibe of the song. This constant toying with us like she now toys with her captives. Glorious.
Then we hit another “Interlude 2” where she admits all she planned was to kill them and burn the hospital down but she cannot stop. The thing inside her has grown. This is nowhere near over. “Darkest Desire” I am still quizzing over, but musically they head into jazz in the middle. Who would have expected that? I think she wants to be a leader or a messiah, a mad “Market Square Hero” if you will.
Soaring Guitar Solo
We arrive at the last 3 songs. “Amoeba Of Madness” has a gentler opening; in fact her vocals make you feel compassion for her. She has lost
any control but she doesn’t understand why, there must be something living in her head, a “parasite” which she sings “consumes me” and gives a “warm sensation in my veins, comforting…“. The keys underneath at points seem out of place, disconcerting, like the undercurrent to her madness. Doktor Von Stottenstein supplies a fabulous soaring solo full of emotion, yet quite playful, it even uses a melody from a track from the previous album. Lovely stuff.
This is the song where she declares she wants a person to help, to kill for her, she cannot cope on her own. Then we hit “Interlude 3” where the Doctor tells her she is also an addict but to “blood” before she finally has enough and finishes him off with a bullet, more than likely to the head!
They finish on what was the first single release and video (go watch it) “We Are Legion“. Is this about all the other inmates gathered with her, or is it all the voices in her head? I have my views but they might be wrong (or perhaps it is just up to the listener).
Final Thoughts
What an album, what a ride, what a huge amount of fun. This is a completely different beast to the last album, but it does hang together pretty well and links the previous 2 up nicely. It is heavier. It is punchier with less longer intros to songs so live they should punch you in the face quicker. They have also managed to surprise musically by incorporating loads of musical styles and vocal deliveries not used before.
The craziness of the character shines through and like all good villains you can actually connect with her feelings and distress, she is not one dimensional. The band, which also comprises Wolfy Huntsman on bass and Bam Bam Bedlam on drums have really made another excellent album. It is definitely heavy enough for the metal crowd and it has enough melody and musicianship to keep the rock and prog crowd interested. Thank fuck they didn’t do part 2 of Metamorphosis as that would never have been as good as this. This is brilliant. As someone who loves the band (they are fabulous people too) I am so happy they have blown me away again. Roll on the tour….
Upcoming UK Dates
WARD XVI live this October: Saturday 18th – Hidden, Dundee; Sunday 19th – Ivory Blacks, Glasgow; Monday – 20th The Cluny, Newcastle; Tuesday 21st – Yardbird, Grimsby; Wednesday 22nd – Nighttrain, Bradford; Thursday 23rd – O’Rileys, Hull; Friday 24th – Firebug, Leicester; Saturday 25th – Brickmakers, Norwich; Sunday 26th – Cart & Horses, London; Monday 27th – Levels, Swindon; Tuesday 28th – The Cobblestones, Bridgwater; Wednesday 29th – The Bunkhouse, Swansea; Thursday 30th – The Station, Cannock; Friday 31st – Blitz, Preston. Tickets HERE
Pre-Order/Purchase HERE
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Check out my other reviews and articles here. Tom
