7/10

Throughout her time as the lead singer of Chvrches, Lauren Mayberry has become one of the more recognisable voices in the electro-pop sphere. With her glossy vocal performances combined with a Scottish lilt proving both distinctive and empowering across a wave of highly-praised releases this past decade, she has been a true standout performer with plenty to say. And with a smattering of solo outings under her belt this past year, she now looks to cement this era within her career with her eagerly-awaited debut album 'Vicious Creature', a record that seeks to carve her own path.

While, sonically, not too dissimilar from her work with Chvrches, 'Vicious Creature' is more about paying homage to the artists that forged her inspirations during her adolescence. With notes of Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, and Kathleen Hanna, as well as 90s British girl groups such as All Saints and Sugababes layered throughout, her first full-length has this equally nostalgic and progressive edge to it. Reviving her most beloved aesthetics for a modern ear, Mayberry delivers a wonderfully uplifting LP that shows her true colours as someone who looks to adder a brighter direction to the alternative pop arena.

As someone extremely well versed in modern commercial music already, Lauren Mayberry still manages to create this wildly enjoyable collection that perfectly suits her shimmering persona to date. Brimming with both warmth and a flair for the extravagant, 'Vicious Creature' feels like she is only just scratching the surface of her intentions right now.