Health x Chelsea Wolfe - Mean Single Review

Self-proclaimed ‘cum-metal’ industrial group HEALTH and gothic moody chanteuse Chelsea Wolfe have collaborated (for the first time ever!) on a new single, which dropped just a few days ago.

MEAN is a haunting and emotive track, with distinctive yet unexpected instrumentals and evocative vocals. full of yearning and ache, it is a bewitching listen.

The track opens with distorted and fragmented sounds, almost giving the impression of a needle jumping across the scratched surface of a record. The intro is explosive and experimental, setting the mood for the rest of the song effectively. The synths, which sound similar to a warped harpsichord, dance throughout the introduction and the choruses of the song. This unique sound enhances the themes of disillusionment and disrupted fantasy.

Lyrically and thematically, MEAN is full of longing and melancholy. The first verse opens with Wolfe delivering pained lines like:

“I can't fake it, I can't sleep This fantasy I can't escape Clouded mind, haunted lover Doomed to want, can’t get enough.”

The mysterious nature regarding the specific meaning of the lyrics adds to the mist of darkness, which enshrouds the track as a whole.

An electronic industrial bassline in the background thumps like a heartbeat, symbolising the heartache and anxiety of lying alone at night, unable to sleep, contemplating a love which is unrequited or toxic.

Wolfe’s vocals enhance the moodiness of the electronic instrumentals, creating a beautiful sonic dichotomy of harshness and delicacy, passion and detachment.

Jake Duzsik’s vocals entangle with Wolfe’s in the chorus, creating an achingly beautiful harmony which is heartbreaking and textured. They implore “did you want to be mean for no reason?” and "Did you want to be free of the illusion That life could be sweet and you could feel good?"

After the first chorus, The track immediately slows down into a moment of emotional breakdown, enhanced by haunting gentle strings and melodic guitars in the background. The slowness is sensual and raw as Duzsik and Wolfe’s entwined vocals float in the space between pained and carnal. They repeat the line "I can't fake it" almost like the ones they are trying to convince are themselves.

Breathy vocals come towards the surface during the final chorus, and Wolfe’s angelic high vocals lead the song to its conclusion. The combination of breathiness and ethereal vocals creates a heavy atmosphere that is tinged with longing as the track fades to silence, entrancing listeners and leading them into the abyss much like a siren would.

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As a fan of both Health and Chelsea Wolfe, this collaboration definitely exceeded my expectations and provided a sound which is entirely its own, being quite different from the solo works and vibes of both artists. The lyrics and heavy sonic atmosphere especially stood out to me as a listener, and made the track truly enrapturing.

Chelsea Wolfe will be touring across Australia and New Zealand later this month with Aphir supporting her. Tickets can be found here!

Rating: 9/10