“Revengeseekerz” is just like every other Jane Remover album, in that it sounds nothing like any other Jane Remover album.
This has proven to be Remover’s sworn thesis when it comes to their music. In a production breakdown livestream for their first album, “Frailty,” they quipped that anybody who thought Album 2 would sound like Album 1 would be in for a rude awakening — and they were right. The teenage glitched-out indietronica of “Frailty” gave way to the slow-burn shoegaze ballads on their second project, “Census Designated,” just two years later.
After the release of “Census,” in an interview with the online magazine Them, they once again made it clear that “the album [they] make after this is not gonna sound like Census Designated.” Their output in only four short years has proven that Remover values versatility when it comes to music production, and “Revengeseekerz” is home to some of the most clear-cut proof of this fact.
Longtime fans of Remover recognized the digicore rap sensibilities that underscored the album’s first single, “JRJRJR” — a sound that they’d left behind even before the release of “Frailty.” As someone known for always exploring new genres, to revisit a sound that they’d previously sworn off as a bygone era of their career came as a surprise to listeners.
The second single, “Dancing with your eyes closed,” threw fans for even more of a loop — first a full-force hip-hop hit, then a hyperpop-house hybrid? It was clear the direction that Remover’s music would take during the rollouts for her previous two albums, but these two singles left fans scratching their heads — satisfied, but stumped.
It follows, then, that when “Revengeseekerz” was released at midnight on April 4 with no prior announcement, listeners were eager to jump into the 10 new tracks to figure out just what might be in store for them.
I was in this boat myself, startled awake at 1 a.m. by a call from a friend practically screaming the news into my ear. After dozens of listens of the full project in preparation for this review, all I can tell you is that Remover has not only laid all their cards on the table, but has also set the table on fire.
“Revengeseekerz” is a digital maelstrom encapsulating everywhere Remover has been, everything they’ve made and everything they stand for. In 49 minutes you have tech house bangers in “Psychoboost,” “Experimental Skin” and “TURN UP OR DIE,” intricately woven rage rap beats in “Star people,” “Dreamflasher” and “angels in camo” and even a poignant reflective singer/songwriter cut in “Dark night castle.”
Video game samples from titles that defined Remover’s childhood are the backbone of each track — voice lines from “Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games” and the cry of the Pokémon Palkia are wrapped up in what feels like dozens of melodic lines pelted in all kinds of percussive hits, all complementing one another in a whirlwind of sound.
On top of the masterful maximalist production, the lyrics see some of the artist’s most forthright and self-reflective thoughts on record thus far. Lines contemplating their own fame, their identity and their fanbase are delivered with a striking confidence; some of Remover’s catchiest hooks like “Dreamflasher” lyrics “Please, God, save me, I’m so turnt right now” occupy the same space as lines like “Watching myself make a fool on stage” on “Dark night castle.”
Above all, though, this album is not itself if not for screaming. Remover pulls from many different bags for the scream samples on this project, including a Sonic fangame and the 1997 movie “The End of Evangelion,” but a large percentage of them come from them themselves — and it’s for good reason. Remover has finally found their voice on “Revengeseekerz,” and they’re using it for everything it’s worth.
“Revengeseekerz” is out now on streaming platforms via deadAir Records. Their headlining tour in support of the album begins on April 23.
5/5 stars
ecuster1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @janeremover, X
