By now, you will know of our obsession with Energy Whores, the brain-child of avant-garde artist Carrie Schoenfeld. We have previously featured some of Energy Whores‘ singles, and could not wait to experience the long-awaited album, Arsenal of Democracy.
The record kicks off with Hey Hey Hate!, which opens with bold and astral synths with a driving beat. The sounds quickly locks into a looping, mantra-esque hook, delivering an important call for love and unity amidst rising division. This feels like an important track to start the album with, as it blends philosophical intent with an infectious energy.
Next up is the title track of the album, Arsenal of Democracy, which opens with a dimensional vibe and the words, “Calling all the free-thinking people of the world…” as Carrie summons a higher level of consciousness to join with her in an “arsenal of democracy.” With reference to the current genocides, h-bombs and more, Energy Whores paints a picture of our apathetic world and rallies a call to arms to bring us together in a more enlightened way. We appreciate the instrumental bridge that invites further introspection before the final choruses.
This brings us to Pretty Sparkly Things, which is designed to illuminate society’s obsession with wealth, status, and spiritual emptiness through the medium of a satirical hyperpop critique. “Pretty sparkly things, watches, and rings, shiny bling, fancy bobbles made for queens, if you want them, you could never have them, you′re too poor and sleeping on the floor, if you want them, you could never have them, can’t pay your bills, can′t afford your pills…”, sings Carrie as she cements her poignant message. Energy Whores serves up a commentary on energetically out of reach celebrities and the exclusion of the poor, struggling for survival. The message society’s obsession with status and feels very zeitgeist.
Mach9ne ignites with a high-octane, multidimensional soundscape, creating an electrifying fusion of electronica and introspection. The track explores AI’s societal footprint with cerebral precision. Sonic switch-ups and hypnotic textures keep us entranced as themes of technological transcendence and ethical responsibility collide. Drawing inspiration from figures like Sam Altman and Elon Musk, Energy Whores probe the danger not in AI itself, but in those who wield it for profit. Both meditative and menacing, Mach9ne is a neuroplastic symphony urging reflection, dialogue and responsible innovation in our accelerating digital frontier.
This leads us to Bunker Man is a synth-pop track blending laser-precision futuristic energy with deep themes of dystopian paranoia, greed and societal collapse. Through its mesmerizing beats and evocative vocals, it critiques modern excess, exploring humanity’s fragility and urging us to cherish life amidst the chaos. It’s both a warning and a call to live fully. The production is genius, and the repeated notion of “only us machines will be left to hear you scream” truly sums up the message of the album, and really reminds us of Grimes.
The most melodic moment on the album is the opening of Two Minutes to Midnight, where we experience an almost post-apocalyptic setting following cyber attacks. It’s truly quite a sad song, and reminds us of what is happening in our world, how humans are to blame, not God. Carrie says, “It directly confronts nuclear escalation and the fragility of human survival without sensationalism or metaphor.” We appreciate the way that Carrie creates sirens with her echoing vocals and the futuristic spoken word moments that create a cinematic vibe. Overall, the record has this quality, it feels like living in a movie.
Little Pill feels vibrant and optimistic, but is actually an introspective and emotional commentary on escapism. Electric Friends opens with a calm, electronic subversion. “You’d all be dead to me without electricity…” sings Carrie poignantly as she details a stark, slow-burning reflection on digital loneliness. In essence, Electric Friends reveals how social media disguises isolation as connection.
Next is Speedo Boys Drone which is high octane and cheeky track which actually humanizes drones and their future presence in our reality, flying over our properties. It’s playful but actually quite alarming! The final track is King Orange, which opens with a very organic bass guitar, intertwined with Energy Whores‘ cerebral electronica. The track is quite an ego driven track and we assume it is about Donald Trump. A fitting conclusion to the album as he truly is the poster child for a lot of the turmoil that society is experiencing.
All in all, the album is a masterpiece on societal commentary and a unique production that feels cohesive and experimental, but most importantly with purpose. It is designed to “document awareness in a time when awareness itself feels radical.”
We have added the title track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we continue to stream the entirety of Energy Whores‘ discography, and anticipate future releases from Carrie Schoenfeld and her collaborators!