Anika – Abyss | soundsfromthedarkside

Keep calm and sit down and read about this call to action by Anika.

Among connoisseurs, the British-born and Berlin-based Anika has been known for her stark post-rock sounds and icy stage presence. Her earlier solo efforts, Change (2021) and Eat Liquid (2023), are set aside for her most emotionally charged work yet as she crafts her own raw vision of grunge and post-punk. For this reason alone, Abyss is a necessary work that belongs at the heart of today’s European counterculture.

Recorded over a few intense days at Berlin’s Hansa Studios, Abyss is intentionally stripped back. Instead of the chilly synths of her earlier work, snarling guitars and layered acoustics now bring the physical energy needed to express her leftist ideals. Sound-wise, Abyss draws from the psychedelic rock of the late ‘60s to the edgy grunge of the ‘90s. While her singing resembles Nico, Gen X listeners will also hear echoes of PJ Harvey, Hole, Pixies, and even Sonic Youth. However, Anika successfully balances her sound between these influences, combining dissonance, elegance, and chaos.

From the very beginning, it’s clear that Anika wants people to stand up and protest, against almost everyone and everything, but she also looks inward as she addresses the complexities of identity in modern life. On opener Hearsay, she cleverly explores themes of misinformation and how the media can twist the truth. The altered vocals create a feeling of paranoia, setting the mood for the rest of the album. On the title track, she dives into political corruption, while on the almost upbeat Walk Away and Oxygen, she sings about mental health.

Anika often uses religious imagery and simple poetry in her lyrics to critique power structures. Her critiques—whether political or cultural—may feel harsh at first, but upon closer listening, they reveal themselves as thoughtfully written and heartfelt. Still, the best tracks on Abyss are undoubtedly those where the pace picks up. On Honey, a high-energy grunge-inspired anthem, she addresses the struggles of unhealthy relationships—a vibe she doubles down on in Out of the Shadows. Here, she attacks patriarchal standards in the music industry as she sings: “I don’t want your opinions, I don’t want your advice, I don’t need supervision, I don’t wanna be nice!”

Even with its darker themes, Abyss offers moments of hope. Especially on the final track Buttercups, Anika provides a peaceful moment after the chaos. It’s a dreamy and sweet song that lyrically and musically feels like an encore no one really wants to hear. In every respect, Last Song is Abyss’s true closer, so let’s just pretend the album ends there.

In a recent promotional interview on the website of her label Sacred Bones, Anika described Abyss as a project born from frustration and a desire to rebel. Solidarity and creating safe spaces for resistance form the basis of Abyss. If you take it for what it is, Abyss is at the very least an honest, semi-poetic, and powerful record by one of today’s most uncompromising voices.