Album Review: Sarah And The Safe Word – Red Hot And Holy

If you’re going to choose a band name then pick one that sticks in the mind, Sarah And The Safe Word is one that’s guaranteed to linger along after you’ve first heard it, it’s also one that conjures up a myriad of possibilities as to what the band will sound like, when you consider the six piece outfit include violin and viola amongst the expected musical accompaniment you’re probably still guessing. The Atlantan sextet have now released their sophomore album Red Hot And Holy that follows up on their 2017 debut full length, Strange Doings In The Night.

The theatrical Invocation resembles the start of a vintage horror movie, what follows is a unique and subversive cabaret of alt rock influences that channels the likes of My Chemical Romance and Panic! At the Disco. The album’s closing track, Lit Cigarette, and Red Hot And Holy‘s lead single, Formula 666, are about as close as Sarah And The Safe Word come to a straight up alt rock single, the latter is amongst the album’s finest moments and it is delivered with a distinct nod to the teenage tragedy songs of the 50’s and 60s.

There’s an obvious comparison to the likes of The Dresden Dolls and The Urban Voodoo Machine who both bring a distinct influence from the vaudeville cabaret to their sound, and that’s the attitude that Sarah And The Safe Word bring with their latest full length. If you want to hear something different from your run of the mill alt rock, emo and indie bands then Sarah And The Safe Word are well worth investigating. Red Hot And Holy is an album that brings something unique into 2019 and it is delivered with a knowing wink and a gloriously extravagant theatrical flourish.

Sarah And The Safe Word can be found on Bandcamp, Facebook, Spotify and Twitter

Red Hot And Holy can be purchased via Take This Heart Records here