From Lizzo to Evanescence: the albums out this week

A Friday of releases marked, above all, by international records. From Lizzo, one of the most anticipated works, to Evanescence, passing through the return of Death Cab for Cutie, with a project that promises to be cathartic. There is also space for Niall Horan’s songwriting. Below is Rockol’s advice, with some of the most important publications, or in any case to keep an eye on, scheduled for June 5th.

Lizzo – “Bitch”

“Reclaiming the word ‘bitch’ is power: it means taking a label once used to belittle women and transforming it into a declaration of self-confidence and unapologetic self-love”: with these words Lizzo announced the release of her new album. The pop star’s next recording project will be her first studio work since “Special” in 2022, after which the career of Melissa Viviane Jefferson, this is the artist’s real name, suffered several shocks following accusations of harassment by some of her former employees, including dancers and stylists, followed by moments in which the singer seemed to want to abandon music.

Evanescence – “Sanctuary”

The band led by Amy Lee has announced the release of its next album, also anticipated by a single like “Who Will You Follow”. The song in question was written and produced together with Zakk Cervini and Jordan Fish, former keyboardist and producer of Bring Me The Horizon, and now Poppy’s mentor in her metalcore parenthesis. “We’ve been working on it for three years, and after listening to it all together from start to finish, when it’s almost time for its release, I can say that I’m truly proud of every second of it. Working on it was my outlet for many things that I feel are wrong and out of control, a place to rekindle hope through the power of music and connection”, underlined the frontwoman.

Death Cab for Cutie – “I built you a tower”

Death Cab for Cutie are going through one of the most delicate moments of their career. And they sing it – and play it – in “I built you a tower.” The album was released on the Anti-label, marking the band’s return to an independent label after over 20 years with Atlantic Records. The project, which arrives four years after the previous “Asphalt meadows”, was produced by John Congleton and was recorded rather quickly, over the course of about three weeks, between studios in Los Angeles and various home sessions between Seattle, Portland and other cities on the West Coast. This was anticipated by the single “Riptides”, a song that addresses the theme of the weight of personal difficulties experienced while the outside world is crossed by crises and bereavements: it is one of the key pieces to understand the tone of the album, more introspective and dark, which revolves around themes such as resilience and survival. In short, an album to be interpreted.

Niall Horan – “Dinner Party”

Fourth solo album for former One Direction Niall Horan. “Dinner party” arrives three years after the previous “The show”, of which it seems to represent a sort of sequel: the 12 songs that compose it confirm the more intimate and narrative pop-folk direction undertaken by the British singer-songwriter. The songs talk about love, losses, hopes and small everyday moments. There’s also “End of an era”, the song Niall Horan wrote after the death of former 1D bandmate Liam Payne, described by the singer-songwriter as a “very emotional” tribute. We’ll see if “Dinner party” will really be the end of an era for Horan.