Defiance takes many forms, just as many forms as there are things to rebel against.  For many, defiance equates to aggression, destructive tendencies that shake up the status quo and shine a light on inequality, mistreatment or other societal ills.  For others, simply existing in the world and being seen is an act of rebellion in and of itself, and it’s in the overlap of these spaces that Thotcrime, the US/UK cybergrind conglomerate, resides.  Their third full-length, Connection Anxiety, taps into a rebellious spirit by way of joy and radical self-acceptance, two feelings that are getting more and more popular in the metal scene.  

Beginning life in November of 2020, when almost every other band out there was wading through a creative dearth, Thotcrime took full advantage of their multinational, mostly digital composing and recording and went on a tear, releasing albums, splits, EPs and eventually live releases with the speed and execution you would expect from bands with a much longer tenure.  All this prolific output eventually culminated in an in-person tour for 2022’s D1G1T4L_DR1FT where vocalist Hayley Elizabeth, guitarist Melody Jane and drummer Dottie Homler met collaborator and producer Les Beaux Plastiques for the first time in person after years of working together in online spaces.  Writing for Connection Anxiety began soon after, with an even greater collaborative focus.  Elizabeth took on a shared role in production with Les Beaux Plastiques, Homler exerted more influence on hir drum parts, programmed and recorded, across the album, and Jane’s guitar parts broke from her all-digital precedent and leant on live instrumentation to carry the beefy riffs that anchor the songs on Connection Anxiety.  Unfortunately, just as things seemed to be ramping up for Thotcrime, Homler suddenly passed away in December, leaving Connection Anxiety as hir final release with the band and a tribute to what a powerhouse sie was behind the kit and computer.  In doing due diligence on this review, it does not seem like Thotcrime are keen to speak on specifics regarding this or the future of the band, so I won’t belabor this point; Homler was a wonderful person, and beast of a drummer, and hir loss will be felt dearly by many.  The relentless positivity sie put forth in life is immediately felt on first listen to Connection Anxiety.

The album is firmly grounded, as all their other releases are, in the intersection of hyperpop and cybergrind; as you might imagine, there is a lot of synth, keys, production, samples and electronics, but the emphasis on live instrumentation helps shake things up and put some organic life into the hardware that makes up Connection Anxiety.  There is a TON of energy on display here, and right off the bat, too.  The one-two punch of “A Better World Is Possible” into “Behind the Cracks” seamlessly blends Jane’s chunky riffs and deft melodies with the ferocity and punky attitude of Homler’s drumming and Elizabeth’s sultry croon.  Top it all off with quality production invoking the mid-to-late 00’s, what I would consider the golden age of bleep bloops, and you’ve got something that has hooks for days and an empowering, positive message without sacrificing any of its metallic roots.  In the best way possible, Connection Anxiety reminds me of the early days of YouTube, before endless ads and monetization, when only a handful of people could upload videos longer than ten minutes so everything was an AMV.  It taps into that special time on the internet where things felt a lot more carefree and lawless.  And there’s even something of a ballad here, with “The Wrong Way” going in a wholly pop direction, led by the dual production work of Les Beaux Plastiques and Elizabeth, and charged with Elizabeth’s heartfelt rebellion against meeting expectations.  The whole album is laden with anthems of jubilation and overcoming the feelings and expectations that hold us back and keep us from being the best version of ourselves.

Connection Anxiety effortlessly and effectively mixes breakdowns and dance breaks, pugnacity and positivity, loss and life-affirmation, all in the span of barely 30 minutes.  It’s a fitting tribute to a friend, it’s a high water mark for the group, and I think only time will tell what the future holds for Thotcrime.  We wish them well until that time comes.

— Ian

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Connection Anxiety will be available August 16 on Prosthetic Records.  For more information on Thotcrime, visit their official website.