This review was published in the July 2022 issue of Classic Rock magazine, no. 302.
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Near-death experiences and personal adversity influence the gothic metaphors of rock’s own Morticia Addams.
Starting strong, Beautiful Life and Rest In Peace are powerful watersheds. The former through its soaring, anthemic chorus, while latter is a darker personification of addiction yet remains ambiguous enough to be the world’s most cathartic send-off to a hellish ex (“no-one’s laying roses on your bones.”) Hurricane is a full-frontal attack on relationship anxiety while Close to Me Always clutches at the smoke of lost love.
Trevor Lukather proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, matching his dad’s prowess in collaboration with Bon Jovi’s Phil X on such riffs as Top of the World and Touched by Fire.
The autonomy over struggle and success characterises Black Sheep and ultimately concludes the album, while Gifts celebrates powerful introspection in contrast to Rockisdead (2016). Dorothy’s place in the echelons of rock is secured with an ode to resilience, rooted in the deepest strength and bookended by triumph.
9/10
Phoebe Flys