Boston-forged and Brooklyn-based post-punk provocateurs Model/Actriz returned to us on May 3 with Pirouette (True Panther Records), the feverishly anticipated follow-up to their blistering 2023 debut, Dogsbody. Known for their physical, feral live shows and vocalist Cole Haden’s magnetic, almost confrontational presence, Model/Actriz are back to twist the knife even deeper—dance or die.
The first time I became aware of Model/Actriz was in 2017 when I was invited to see another friend’s new band at the Hi- Hat in Highland Park. I missed my friends’ band but I did NOT miss Model/Actriz. I knew, then and there, that I had witnessed something special there and instantly the bands’ first EP- “NO” became a classic in my catalog.
related: The Next Wave of Sound- Model/Actriz at The Hi Hat
While their follow up EP, AVA did not hit as hard for me, it served as a laboratory for their first full length 2023 release- Dogsbody. Where Dogsbody introduced the band’s vicious fusion of noise rock, industrial grooves, and sweaty club tension, Pirouette sharpens their edge without losing any of the body-moving chaos. Produced with a tighter, cleaner mix that never loses its grit, the record still slithers and screams with the same dirty glamour we’ve come to expect. Also, Haden’s monotone, “bad dad on the verge of violence” style vocal’s have evolved into hook’s with catchty melodies that don’t sacrifice the intensity so many bands let go of to capture a bigger audience. Quite the opposite. Haden’s artistic expansion into melodies and hooks evoke even more intensity as he emotes in his vocals with braver expressions of vulnerability.
After my first listen to Pirouette, I sampled some of the imagery in the video for “Diva”—a kaleidoscope of color and blurred gender lines serves as the backdrop to this musical mantra. “Doves” is experimental music at its finest: grinding, repetitive loops that turn every instrument into a drum operating on a different frequency. “Cinderella” is capable of inducing either hypnosis or psychosis, and I’d describe it as the track most reflective of the trademark sound Model/Actriz are crafting—marked by the signature deadening harmonics that first drew me in with “Liar,” from their debut EP
Pirouette is a declaration of intent. It’s a cooling of the crust after final formation. A country to stand on. But Model/Actriz aren’t interested in playing it safe or fitting into tidy genre boxes. They’re building their own mythology, one sweat-drenched show and unhinged breakdown at a time.
Cole Haden gets a lion’s share of attention, as a lead should, most times. But Model/Actriz is the sum of it’s parts. There isn’t a member in the band that doesn’t have a signature sound. Guitarist Jack Wetmore has found something sacred in his playing style and tone. Drummer, Ruben Radlauer sews himself in a pocket for the band to weave it’s parts into his foundational rhythms and bassist Aaron Shapiro provides a vital layer to the band’s bottom end.
If you’re into No Wave bands like, Liars, or the feeling of being pushed into a wall at a basement show in 2009, Pirouette is your next obsession. Secure it now and prepare to be pulverized in the most cathartic way possible.
Words: Danny Baraz
Photos: Cameron Pagett and Taylor Wong
