Album Review: Bat For Lashes 'The Bride' is Haunting and Magnificent

Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.

It's July 1 and that marks the release of Bat For Lashes' highly anticipated album The Bride.

The album features the classic haunting sound that Bat For Lashes is known for but still manages to be one of the most beautiful displays of music to kick off the month of July.

The first three tracks on The Bride happened to be the singles that Bat For Lashes released prior to the entire album.

"I Do," "In God's House" and "Joe's Dream" set the haunting and mystical setting for tracks like "Honeymooning Alone."

"Honeymooning Alone" is a creepy 70s styled track about a lonely bride going through an eerie honeymoon all on her own, looking for her groom.

It's almost as if she is a ghost waiting for her groom who never came to her and it really plays with your mind.

"Sunday Love" is a more upbeat track that finds the distressed bride pining away for her love.

"A haunting tale of tragedy, devotion, and self-discovery, Natasha Khan's fourth LP pairs spare, gothic pop with a narrative centered around its title character as she reckons with losing her fiance on their wedding day," comments iTunes in their mini-review.

It couldn't be any closer to the truth as this spooky narrative translates into mesmerizing music.

"Close Encounters" begins with a mournfully sad sound and The Bride (Natasha Khan) detailing what will happen when she crosses over to the other side to meet her lover.

It's a gorgeous track that is perfectly produced to pull at your heart-strings. The folky "Never Forgive the Angels" finds The Bride holding a grudge against the angels for taking her lover away.

"Widow's Peak" is a sorcerous song that sounds like a spell being casted. It's truly bewitching and the verses will send chills down your spine.

At this point you cannot help but to praise Khan for these intense visuals that she is able to produce with music.

This is music you can play out like a movie in your mind while listening to it and it's a very underrated skill.

"Land's End" serves as a more mellow continuation of "Widow's Peak" with The Bride continuing to profess her love for her fallen lover.

Bat For Lashes continues the softer sounds with "If I Knew." It's the most "normal" of all of the previous tracks and Khan really shows off the depth and beauty of her voice.

"I Will Love Again" marks the turn of events for the The Bride. The Bride vows to love again after being lost for all of this time.

"In Your Bed" embellishes on the brighter side of The Bride's journey through mourning. It's the most elegant of the tracks and the classic sound is airy and luminous, a far greater difference from the previous tracks.

The majority of the final track, "Clouds," is instrumental with hints of Khan's voice blending in.

Overall The Bride is another brilliant addition to Bat For Lashes' discography. You can stream/listen to Bat For Lashes' The Bride int he audio below.

Stream/Listen to Bat For Lashes' The Bride