8/10

Ria Rua storms into the field with her brilliantly dynamic debut album 'SCAPEG.O.A.T.', a record that is volatile, witty, wounded, and wildly self-assured all at once. From the first punch of percussion on 'Ass Movin', you can feel the pulse of something unapologetic taking shape. The guitars snarl, the drums thunder forward, and Rua’s voice cuts through it all with electric conviction, shifting from biting sarcasm to open-throated release in a heartbeat.

What makes this album so thrilling is its refusal to sit still. There’s grit and distortion woven through tracks like 'Black And Tan', where riffs land like gut-punches and the rhythm section drives with relentless force. Yet there’s precision in the chaos. Every build feels intentional, and every explosive chorus earned.

Rua’s songwriting bristles with intelligence and dark humour. 'You’ll Only Like Me When I’m Dead' skewers cultural hypocrisy with razor-sharp flair, while 'I Love That For You' dives into the uneasy tension between self-preservation and compromise. The production embraces bold contrasts of industrial textures colliding with melodic hooks, as glossy pop instincts crash into muscular alt-rock energy.

Then there are moments of gleeful audacity. 'BITCHSHEMIAN RHAPSODY' is a riot of swagger and attitude that shows she isn’t afraid to laugh while she challenges the world. 'Bi Sexy' radiates pure, liberated confidence, turning identity into celebration rather than explanation. Even the quieter stretches carry a simmering intensity, like a fuse burning just beneath the surface.

This is bold, maximalist alternative rock with teeth and heart. And by the time the final track fades, Ria Rua shows that she is blazing her way onto the scene as one of the more innovative names in the space right now.