8/10
Making her eagerly-awaited return with 'Heavy', DYLYN looks to lean into the weight of her emotions here. The Toronto alt-rock shapeshifter (aka Gwendolyn Lewis) trades polish for punch on this raw five-track offering, blending gritty production with the kind of vocal fire that feels both bruised and defiant.
From the opening moments on its blistering title-track, DYLYN delivers each line with the urgency of someone cracking open their ribcage to let the storm out. The production is volatile, echoing the chaos of love lost and identity reclaimed. There’s a palpable edge, but also restraint as she tightens every lyric like a live wire.
The production, mastered by Dave Cooley (Paramore, M83), strikes a delicate balance between distortion and clarity. DYLYN’s voice is never lost as it cuts through the radiant swirls of guitars, commanding even in its quietest moments. There are flashes of ‘90s alt, echoes of post-grunge, and even synth-laced shadows that nod to her earlier pop incarnations, adding a truly multidimensional approach as it plays.
If her 2022 LP 'The Sixty90s' was DYLYN’s exploration of past and persona, 'Heavy' feels like the unmasked aftermath. It’s less concept, more confession, and a beautifully jagged reminder that survival is an art form.
DYLYN's new EP 'Heavy' is out on the 17th May.
