GENRE; Metal
LABEL; Sumerian
RATING; 4/5
Empty Hands, released on January 23, 2026 through Sumerian Records, marks Poppy’s seventh studio album and sees the artist leaning further into intense metalcore and alternative metal territory than ever before. The record is produced and co‑written with Jordan Fish, formerly of Bring Me the Horizon, whose polished yet aggressive production underpins the album’s heavy melodies and crushing breakdowns.
The album opens with “Public Domain,” a bold industrial‑inspired track that sets an urgent, confrontational tone for what follows, blending mechanized vocals with dramatic riffs. Tracks like “Bruised Sky” and “Unravel” highlight Poppy’s ability to balance visceral aggression with melodic hooks, showcasing a vocal range that shifts from soaring clean singing to gritty metalcore growls.
Lyrically and thematically, Empty Hands often explores anger, loss, and the emotional fallout of relationships gone wrong, giving the music a raw, emotional edge alongside its sonic ferocity. Songs such as “Ribs” add depth with more reflective moments, while the pounding title track closes the album in full deathcore style, unrelenting in its intensity.
Critical reception is mixed but largely positive: many reviewers praise Poppy’s vocal performances and the album’s cohesive energy and flow, noting that it’s both heavier and savvier than her previous work. However, some critics feel the record doesn’t push as many boundaries as it could, with a few tracks slipping into familiar metal‑core territory instead of breaking new ground.
Ultimately, Empty Hands stands as a bold statement of Poppy’s evolving musical identity — a dynamic fusion of metal ferocity and pop sensibility that solidifies her place in modern alternative music.
