Catherine Elms – Medusa (2025)
A couple of years ago, we came across the Welsh singer-songwriter Catherine Elms with her single, ‘Frustrations’. A combination of baroque pop with hard rock and a kick of alternative rock, Elms immediately piqued our interest with an obscure sound. From then on, we’ve been astounded with her well-received albums, I Have Seen It, I Do Not Fear It and ARCANA, even if we didn’t review them. Joined by a global mass of listeners, her music took – and continues to take – people on a transformative sonic journey. Join us as we jump into her most recent release, ‘Medusa’.
Following the critically acclaimed 2023 EP, ARCANA, Elms returns with her new single, ‘Medusa’. Recorded and produced with Chris Stagg, the track draws together elements of hard rock, post-punk, alternative rock, and a peep of melodic metal. Interestingly, as much as these heavier sounds weave a dark web of music about you with each chord, Elms’s rich vocals insert an odd tint of soul with caressing warmth and haunting desperation.
Given previous material like ‘Ruins’ and ‘The High Priestess’, I found myself comparing Elms to the Dresden Dolls’ Amanda Palmer – particularly with the dark piano pulsating throughout the melodies. Yet, in this case, while the darkness of Amanda Palmer exists, Elms presents an obtuse sound that is entirely Catherine Elms and no one else.
Brimming with bold guitars, powerful drums, and a lingering piano, ‘Medusa’ oscillates between dark tragedy and empowering resilience bound with an off-kilter “what the hell, this is creepy, but I like it” mood. In its intricate wave of brashness and mellifluous flow, the song encapsulates the human spirit with delicate vulnerability. Elms explains:
“‘Medusa’ is about finding empowerment in the parts of yourself you were to told to hide, the messy, jealous, or dark emotions that make us human. It’s a call to embrace your flaws and learn to love the monster within.”
In addition to the single, Catherine Elms released an official music video for ‘Medusa’. You can view the video below and/or on Elms’ YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Catherine Elms on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more post-punk melodies on The Other Side Reviews Post Punk playlist:
