Rating: 4/5 stars
To those who know them, Jazmin Bean (“Terrified”) is an artist driven by a culmination of hyper-pop and metal, with a voice that can fluctuate from soft undertones to aggressive chants throughout a rough rhythm. The title track of their first EP, “Worldwide Torture,” is the perfect representation of the latter.
“All I really want is to destroy, ‘stroy, ‘stroy/one first in ya face while keeping my poise/A pure violation of God’s great creation/it’s an infestation, it’s world domination.”
With these lyrics from their song “Worldwide Torture,” it seemed Bean solidified their target theme: heavy metal beats supporting their goal of gluttonous domination. Thus, with the release of their newest album, “Traumatic Livelihood,” there was an expectation for them to continue their reign of supremacy in their music.
This was not the case, however. Yes, there are still songs on the album that reflect their past persona, including “Sh*t Show,” “Best Junkie You Adore” and “B*tch With The Gun,” but the theme of the album now revolves around heartbreak and a nasty relationship split; it almost seems as if Olivia Rodrigo (“good 4 u”) snuck into the music writing room and tweaked the works-in-progress.
Even with the shift in dynamics, the quality of their songs does not diminish, and Bean continues to use graphic, vile lyrics to bring their point across. Some may be turned off by the new topics under Bean’s spotlight, but they make it work incredibly well. Like “Worldwide Torture” set the floor for their first album, the song “Traumatic Livelihood” prepares the listener for a symphony of talented vocals and harmonizing notes while mentioning heinous acts to come.
“Lick the plate clean and I’ll get anything I want/If the prize is your belly, I’ll rip out your guts/You can’t stop me, I will get everything I want.”
The next song of the album, “Piggie,” cranks up the magnitude of the expletives, but for very good reason, considering its underlying message.
“And sadly/it’s just a little bit too late/Your clothes are clean/but you got a teenager for a date/Filthy in heaven/cradle me, my favorite parent/Disgust, oh well/write me letters down in your jail cell.”
As quickly as it opened, the driving forces of the album came to light. “Traumatic Livelihood” is a description of an actual one, a life of turmoil that Bean has experienced. For context, Bean was the victim of grooming at 14, and though they pursued legal action against their abuser, the legal system failed the young artist.
The album is ultimately a form of escapism, an outlet for Bean to “unleash the beast,” according to an interview with the Luna Collective. This explains the bluntness in each of their songs, as it is not supposed to appease the general public; it is meant to help Bean overcome the trauma they have endured.
Image from Jazmin Bean via YouTube
