Rating: 4.5/5 stars

On his single, Post Malone (“Twelve Carat Toothache”) doubled down on developing his sound, while struggling to free himself from a toxic relationship.

“Chemical,” although released as a single on April 21, was included as a part of “The Diamond Collection.” The collection is made up of eight diamond-certified singles, plus this track.

The track shows how Malone has continued to stray from his rap origins. Unlike “Psycho,” his vocals are more melodic than spoken. The instrumentation is also more evolved. This embellishes a dreamy pop-rock experience.

Kicking off with nostalgic guitar arpeggiation, Malone speaks to a possible lover about the difficulty of leaving, even if it hurts him to stay. The line, “You break me, then I break my rules” creates imagery of a relationship where the victim feels powerless.

“I ain’t tryna fight fate, it’s too late to save face/I can’t get away, maybe there’s no mistakes,” Malone sings. This is another element of him believing that he cannot get out of the unhealthy relationship.

When the guitar begins a strumming pattern at the chorus, an upbeat, pulsating rhythm of the drums takes over. Malone sings, “Tell you that I’m sorry, tell me what I gotta do/‘Cause I can’t let go, it’s chemical.” This is a powerful message that listeners can connect with, but also easily get lost in. 

The sound becomes atmospherically beautiful. This symbolizes him breaking free from the challenges that once held him back. The way Malone is capable of telling a difficult story with a positive energy is captured on this track. 

In the music video, Malone is seen vibing in front of multiple green screens. In one scene, the background is a bright blue, lightly cloudy sky. This further develops the idea that Malone is free, finally able to spread his wings and fly. 

On First We Feast’s Hot Ones in 2022, Malone said, “There was a moment to where I lost my passion to make music.” The “Twelve Carat Toothache” album brought back the love he has for producing music, “Now that I’m back, it feels like I was in a cocoon and now I’m a beautiful butterfly,” he said. 

The tune of the track is similar to that of “I Like You” and “Wrapped Around Your Finger” from “Twelve Carat Toothache.” This further shows how Malone has started to create a new version of himself through his love of music. The new approach he has been taking shows his true colors. 

Malone also tied the toxicity of drugs to the toxicity of the relationship he needed to escape. “Oxytocin makin’ it all ok,”/“When I come back down it doesn’t feel the same,” Malone sings. The connection between how the chemicals in drugs and how he felt about his toxic situation, gives listeners insight to how he handled it. He was addicted to the love, even when it was not good for him.

The catchy tune creates an unforgettable experience for listeners. Malone’s talent spans from his ability to not only write multiple diamond-certified singles, but also to do so while changing the entire concept of his music. 

“Chemical” may still have a long way to go, but it is bound to be Malone’s next diamond-certified single, as it is an exuberant and honest bop which Malone has created.

Image from Post Malone via YouTube