In the short year since the release of their debut EP, Internal Discussions, Cherie Amour hasn’t slowed down. From new singles and music videos to dozens of shows across the country, they’ve hit the ground running and show no signs of stopping.
The Baltimore-based nu-punk act stays true to their roots on debut LP Spiritual Ascension, infusing pop punk and hip-hop influences with honest and vulnerable lyricism. This new addition to their discography, while a natural progression to their sound, finds the band leveling up their music by hosting impressive experimentation sonically and lyrically within its tracklist.
Produced by Alan Day (Four Year Strong), Spiritual Ascension raises the bar not only for Cherie’s upcoming projects, but for the rest of the scene. It’s not easy to pull influences from so many genres and blend them together seamlessly, but Cherie makes it look easy. Be it synths and electronics carefully baked into production on tracks like “Letting Go” and “Sin City”, or vocalist Trey Miller rapping in French on “Low N Lean”, Spiritual Ascension doesn’t stray away from trying (and succeeding) at new things.
That’s not to say it’s a jarring change in direction, though. Long-time fans of the band (OG’s who have been around since the One Life To Lead days) will find familiar elements of the band’s past among tracks like “Love’s Not Your Thing” and “God Be A Woman”. Such elements are built upon the strong foundation that Internal Discussions set in 2021, creating a sound that’s classically Cherie Amour while refusing to be stagnant.
Miller’s lyricism is more honest than ever, exploring themes of troublesome relationships and his mental health. Guitarists Casey Reid and Brendan Willis make clear evolutions to their craft throughout the entire record — most notably within “Minds Eye” and “Losing Control” (honorable mention to the breakdown in “Sin City”). Ronnie Sherman (drums) guides each track with exciting influences from across the board, establishing beats often heard on pop and R&B records that lead the quartet seamlessly into punchy pop punk.
The titular “Spiritual Ascension” is a standout track on the album, showcasing everything that makes Cherie’s sound what it is. Rapping? Yes. Pop-influenced harmonies? You bet. A crowdsurfer-worthy bridge? Absolutely. Intricate production? Wouldn’t be a Cherie song without it. To place “Spiritual Ascension” so closely in the tracklist to “In My Head” forces the listener to realize that each of those elements might be what we expect from Cherie Amour, but that’s not all they are.
Spiritual Ascension is one of the most impressive debut albums the scene has heard in a long time. It demands to be taken seriously, and refuses to let Cherie be boxed into the often formulaic sound that people have grown to expect from punk bands. In just eleven songs, Cherie Amour have established themselves as trailblazers. Through impactful songs laced with emotion and vulnerability that translates through all elements — not just vocals — and a perfected unique sound, Spiritual Ascension sets a new standard for the next wave of alt-rock.
Spiritual Ascension releases tomorrow, November 4th on Equal Vision Records. You can click here to pre-save and pre-order a copy of the album.
Cherie Amour will be on tour with In Her Own Words, Capstan, and Shallow Pools for a month-long run of shows across North America. You can click here to grab tickets to a show near you.
