REVIEW: MISSCORE - Hypocrisy

Hailing from Lubrza, Poland, MISSCORE is made up of 4 talented members - Natalia Rygiel being the voice of the band, Mateusz Dźwigała on bass and keyboard, Krystian Suchorab on guitar and Jack Bielecki on the drums. This band draws in fans of Linkin Park, Bring Me The Horizon and Paramore with their pop-rock sound, and they only dropped their debut LP ‘Drown’ at the beginning of the year but have since increased their following around the EU. They've continue to impress us with their new album ‘Hypocrisy’, which is a sign of good things to come.

Introduced with the sound of trumpets, MISSCORE starts off this album strong with the catchy, melodic first song ‘F’. The mixture of clear and screaming vocals works phenomenally, and the way she quickly changes between them adds plenty of depth, making the emotion in her voice evident. The guitar does not disappoint either, with captivating riffs being played throughout and then a rise in energy nearing the end of the song, bringing it to a perfect close. A ticking clock is the first thing you hear in the next song and title track ‘Hypocrisy’, before it fades into the melodic sound that you hear for the rest of the track. The vocals are especially powerful in this song, with a real contrast between the mellow, emotive verses and the soaring choruses making for a hypnotic listen.

‘Away’ starts off with strong guitar and bass riffs rolling across the mix, which sets up expectations nicely for the rest of the song. The soft vocals quickly dissipate into a sharp chorus where everything picks up, including the catchy lyrics that will have you singing every word. The song title is repeated over and over, and by the end of the song will have the listener joining in. ‘Freaks’ begins with a unique beat before changing into a slow guitar, beginning a mysterious sounding verse. Natalia’s vocals are a great mixture of angelic and powerful on this song. The guitar really picks up during the chorus where the vocals become louder. The chorus is a lot more upbeat than the rest of the track, bringing some proper power into the song. 

‘Fire’ is a song that talks about trust and lying, and this theme is introduced right from the off when Rygiel sings “you think you're a liar, you cannot trust yourself with any words you say, or it is you that speaks and then acts like a fool.” One part of this song that really sticks out is towards the end where the heavy, distorted screams take over and the guitar bolsters the sound, making this song a really enjoyable listen if you're into the heavier side of life. ‘Tears’ is another exciting listen, immediately jumping into the energetic vocals that quickly pick up the pace throughout the song. Guitarist Krystian Suchorab does an incredible job on this track, really bringing the song together with the strong, melodic riffs that just get better the more you listen. 

Immediately afterwards, you're greeted with a brutal, fast paced guitar solo on a track called ‘What if.’ This is another one of the heavier songs on the record and it is unique in that you can hear almost everything Natalia’s vocals are capable of. You can hear the swift change in her voice between the verse and the chorus, going from soft and ethereal to a more raw and potent sound. At the end of the song you can even hear her reaching the higher notes and she does an incredible job at it. This song has to be one of the standouts here. The last song you on the album is called ‘Nothing 2 Say’ and it does not disappoint, doing a wonderful job at finishing the release. You can hear screams behind the lead vocals which gives a more intense feeling to the song, as well as the drum beat that steadily increases throughout. The distorted vocals at the end of the track slowly disappear before quickly cutting off, bringing the album to a steady close.

‘Hypocrisy’ is raw, powerful and beautiful. MISSCORE have done an incredible job on this album, making every song into an immersive experience that instantly makes you want to hear more of this band. It is immediately evident that this LP will be loved throughout many different communities, inspiring people all over the world.

Words: Kelsey Mainwaring

Photos: MISSCORE