Album Review: TheCityIsOurs – Will You Still Love Me (Arising Empire)

TheCityIsOurs, the 5-piece pop/metal dynamo from London, is set to amplify their already rising trajectory with their highly anticipated third album, ‘Will You Still Love Me’, out 31st January 2025.

As bright as a star in the cloudless night sky, TheCityIsOurs welcome listeners to their new album with a bang. Focusing immediately on wild heaviness and frantic intensity, Shame is dangerously veering close to deathcore, especially via the vocals which are simply roaring. Not only is this a startling introduction to Will You Still Love Me, but it is TheCityIsOurs at their most aggressive sounding. How delightful!

Fear not pop and alternative rock fans, that side of TheCityIsOurs arrives with excitable and likable aplomb on the following In the Dark. Albeit, perfectly balanced with stompy and fiery metal groove. As for Hot Mess? It’s an album anthem with massive singalong vibes and a chorus that is riotously fun. Then there is Sugar and Dopamine, the former goes in a modern alternative metal direction with heavy emphasis on effects and melody. Whereas the latter has a danceable poppy direction with intensifying rhythms. Both as excitable as the other.

However, if we’re talking about the ultimate example of this album’s likability, look no further than the bouncy energy of Freak Like You. TheCityIsOurs at their anthemic best, combining the strongest aspects of their sound for something hugely unforgettable.

At the halfway point it is clear that this isn’t a million miles away from what TheCityIsOurs has done before, except here, it’s so much more refined. You can really tell they understand their sound and how to get the best out of it, especially when pop and metal are such opposing forces. Yet, when done well, they fit together so nicely and TheCityIsOurs are doing it nicely indeed.

Case in point, the melodramatic vein that runs through Work It Out (If You Let Me), a track with some unusual instrumental touches that give it a more erratic feel. The energetic Hush! Hush!, a track that comes with a lovable chorus, but gets ‘mean’ in the latter part with a serrated sounding breakdown. Oh, there’s also a saxophone solo right at the end too. Outstanding.

Psycho has a tough task following that slice of enjoyable madness, but we’re overdue for an intense one, and this is a return to TheCityIsOurs sounding dangerous. Want a reason to two-step and pit? This is an encouraging one. However, once again, they reach another massive high when infusing more melody into things, as they do with the gargantuan I See You. TheCityIsOurs at their most potently melodic metalcore sounding, and punching harder than ever, come the end.

All good things must come to an end though, and an album that features banger after banger goes out with a bang. First, delivering a snarling listen, that just so happens to have a pop-punky chorus, with Can You Feel It. Few won’t find themselves compelled to singalong, especially when it gets ‘gang vocally’. Then, delivering their most emotive and track of all with Enough, a likable post-hardcore tinged finale that puts the cherry on top of things.

An unstoppable force with a ton of momentum behind them, it’s TheCityIsOurs, and Will You Still Love Me is going to be another huge release for them.

TheCityIsOurs – Will You Still Love Me Track Listing:

1. Shame
2. In The Dark
3. Hot Mess
4. Sugar
5. Dopamine
6. Freak Like You
7. Work It Out (If You Let Me)
8. Hush! Hush!
9. Psycho
10. I See You
11. Can You Feel It
12. Enough

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