Black Honey Soak
Black Honey's Soak arrives as a cinema-tinged statement of growth, where widescreen production and sharp hooks meet a darker, more introspective lyricism. Across three professional reviews, critics point to a band expanding its palette—maturity and musicianship sit alongside retro-pop hooks and moments of existential unease—to deliver a record that feels both theatrically bleak and unexpectedly humane.
The critical consensus, reflected in an 80/100 score from three reviews, singles out several standout tracks as proof of the album's strengths. “Psycho” emerges repeatedly for its Kubrickian creep, fizzing synths and a memorable spoken-word moment that skewers music-industry machinations. “Insulin” is praised for gruelling guitars and a smouldering-to-soaring dynamic, while “Drag” and “Carroll Avenue” get nods for balancing melody with emotional clarity; “Sad Sun” and album cuts like “Vampire in the Kitchen” are noted for adding fury and cinematic payoff. Critics consistently highlight themes of darkness versus light, sobriety and introspection, and applaud the band for genre expansion that still honors pop craft.
While reviewers celebrate the record's dramatic production and Izzy B. Phillips' commanding delivery, some point to theatrical flourishes that occasionally prioritize style over subtlety. Yet the consensus suggests Soak is worth attention for its standout songs and inventive reach. Below, the full reviews unpack how these moments of contrast make Soak a compelling next chapter in Black Honey's evolution.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Drag
1 mention
"‘Drag’ is an airy reflection on front woman Izzy B. Phillips sobriety"— Clash Music
Insulin
2 mentions
"sonically ‘Insulin’ boasts gruelling guitars"— Clash Music
Psycho
3 mentions
"the nihilistic ‘Psycho’ nods to Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange"— Clash Music
‘Drag’ is an airy reflection on front woman Izzy B. Phillips sobriety
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Insulin
Dead
Psycho
Carroll Avenue
Soak
Sad Sun
Shallow
Drag
Vampire In The Kitchen
Slow Dance
To The Grave
Medication
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Black Honey return on Soak with a cinema-tinged darkness that still lets light through, and the best songs are the ones that marry gore and melody - “Psycho”, “Drag” and “Insulin” stand out. Lana Williams writes with a celebratory, slightly nostalgic edge, praising the album's Kubrickian creep of “Psycho” while admiring the hopeful clarity of “Drag”. The review flags “Insulin” for gruelling guitars and vocal hooks, and credits ballads like “Carroll Avenue” and “Sad Sun” for showcasing Izzy B. Phillips' voice. The result is a record that is both theatrically bleak and quietly humane, the best tracks on Soak finding that exact balance.
Key Points
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The best song is notable for balancing theatrical darkness with melodic hooks, exemplified by “Psycho” and “Drag”.
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The album's core strengths are its cinematic influences, dramatic storytelling, and Izzy B. Phillips' commanding vocal performances.
Themes
Critic's Take
Black Honey's Soak finds its best songs in moments of contrast and reinvention, notably “Insulin” and “Vampire in the Kitchen”, where fury and finesse collide. Chris Connor writes with a keen ear for the band’s growth, praising “Insulin” for a slower, smouldering intro that erupts into a soaring, frenzied chorus and hailing “Vampire in the Kitchen” for a fierce, frenetic outro that takes the group to new heights. The review also flags “Carroll Avenue” and the title track as proof of greater musical maturity, showing refined sound and striking guitar work. Overall, the album’s best tracks are those that balance raw energy with melodic refinement, making the best songs on Soak feel both urgent and evolved.
Key Points
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The best song moments, like the outro of "Vampire in the Kitchen" and the chorus of "Insulin", pair raw energy with refined musicianship.
-
Soak’s core strength is its stylistic expansion and increased musical maturity while retaining the band’s punk-grunge energy.
Themes
Critic's Take
Black Honey continue to mine cinematic reference points on Soak, and the best songs land when those filmic flourishes meet big pop hooks. The review flags “Psycho” as a standout for its fizzing, synth-laden production and a huge hook that showcases Izzy B. Phillips’ Gwen Stefani-esque intonations. That track's spoken-word interlude - where she denounces "the big time producers who tear your scripts to shreds" - crystallises why listeners will search for the best songs on Soak. Overall, the album rewards fans of glossy, referential pop with a sharp sense of style and attitude.
Key Points
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Psycho is best because its synth production, massive hook and spoken-word line deliver the album's most immediate payoff.
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Soak's core strengths are cinematic references, retro-pop hooks, and a confident vocal personality.