It feels like no time at all has passed since Foxy Shazam released their comeback album, Burn, in 2020, but I guess that’s what a still on-going pandemic will do to your brain. Anyways, I was tickled to learn a few months ago that they were releasing a new album, The Heart Behead You, a week before I’m due to see them live for the first time since 2014! Let’s break it down.
This album is brief, but they make the most of their nine tracks, even starting with the opening prelude-esque “I’m in Love.” It’s sounds like it should be in the opening credits of a rom-com television show and I loved it. Other really great tracks off the album for me include, “Fall Into the Night” which had me immediately moving my shoulders. Fingers crossed this makes it into the live set next week, because I’d definitely be dancing to this! Closing track, “Love Like This,” was also a really fast-paced and fun song. It really was the perfect song to wrap up this album. Finally, “Nothing to Lose” was up at the top for me solely because of of its ending. The instrumentals became really soft, but Eric Sean Nally’s vocals remained strong and steady. There were even instances in the song where he hit some Brendon Urie level high notes, which I think is kind of funny given that the first time I saw Foxy Shazam was opening for Panic! at the Disco back in 2011.
There were no inherent bad songs on this record in my opinion, but “Only Love,” Kingdom Come,” and “Dancing with My Demons” were just sort of middle of the road for me. With that being said, each track did have a unique quality to it. For instance, “Dancing With My Demons” added in some evil background laughter to kind of add an ominous feeling to an otherwise upbeat song. Similarly, “Kingdom Come” came in with some really strong sounds that are unlike anything I’ve ever heard from the band before. Speaking of things I’ve never heard from this band before, “Love Rush Ecstasy” is maybe the most normal they have ever sounded. Strange. I did love the harmonies in the background of the verses for that song a lot. Also, just so we’re clear, Eric Sean Nally has incredible vocals and nothing reminds me of that more than the second track off the album, “Heart.” The way he delivers it just made me feel like I wanted to lean in closer.
Overall, I really liked the theme of this album, and even more so, I’m just happy Foxy Shazam are back in full swing and making music together! I hope there’s no more damn hiatuses in their future! Stay tuned next weekend for my concert review entry when I finally get to see them again live. I cannot wait!