Sometimes there is no telling if something great is about to land on the music scene. No warnings, no announcements—just pure calm before a storm hits. This description would be for Allie Goertz’s recently released album “Peeled Back.” Coming back from a very long hiatus, “Peeled Back” served as a bold announcement of Goertz’s return to the industry.
Two years in the making, this 15-track collection of reimagined pieces of the iconic Nine Inch Nails discography showcase skills and talent for Goertz. It is a reminder to the listeners of her vocal prowess and undeniable ability to shift and strip down the usual aggressively sounding industrial rock band tone into a calmer yet intensified acoustic approach. Prepare to be struck by Goertz’s skilled ability to transform an entirely familiar sound into a unique and new tone suitable for the taste of the new generation.
Fair warning: this album is not for the faint-hearted. This is not because it isn’t good—trust me, this will absolutely blow your mind—but it’s more likely because of its intense themes. This album is loaded with dark themes involving love (borderline obsession), deep anguish, nihilistic tendencies, loss, disconnection, and numbness. Overall, “Peeled Back” is an album that deals with all the complexities of emotions that a human experiences, not on a superficial level but more deeply until it reaches your soul, yet with Goertz’s skills, she managed to repackage the whole entirety of this discography into something more of her own version of darkness.
The album strongly opens with the track “Closer.” Right off the bat, this track is intense. The alluring voice of Goertz is accentuated by the harmonics created by the guitar and violin, making the whole song as sensual as it is while the lyrics depict a graphic expression of vulnerability and desperation towards their carnal desire and longing directed at a person. This is followed by the track “Ruiner,” which features a modern sound of synths and guitar infused with the haunting sound of the violin. Goertz delivered her lines in a whispered manner for this track, making the vibe of this song a little bit more mysterious.
Moreover, “Big Man With A Gun” takes you back to Goertz’s ability to hide explicit messages through her upbeat vocal performance. This type of hidden message through light and laidback performances of Goertz are also observed on tracks like “Reptile,” “March of the Pigs,” “Hurt,” “Piggy,” and “The Great Destroyer,” which are also featured on this album.
One thing that is constant in this album is the intensified emotions on each track. “Head Like a Hole” carries a certain powerful rejection of the idea of some trying to gain control over their lives. “We’re In This Together,” on the other hand, is a heartfelt song that recognises the power of having someone who will go with you through thick and thin in your life, even though this person knows all the dirty laundry that you carry with you. Although these tracks carry extreme power, Goertz managed to convert that into some kind of quiet anguish which is more sinister and reserved.
There is no denying that Allie Goertz’s voice is phenomenal. It is unique, and in the way she’s singing, she’s making it sound like hell grows flowers. Her voice is unique as it possesses a strong yet fragile quality, making her performance dark but still carrying its angelic qualities. The track “The Hand That Feed” features just that. The minimal instrumentation on this track directed the spotlight to the vocals of Goertz. It is a powerful track that gives a message of defiance against exploitation when a person blindly obeys a person or a situation. Just like other tracks, this song is a close inspection of the psychological and moral aspects of something inherently corrupted. This can also be observed in the track “The Becoming,” a song that strongly suggests desperation to grab a hold of qualities that make a person human. It also depicts internal conflict, numbness, and even nihilistic tendencies that make a human feel like a machine, yet it carries that desperate plea to stay afloat and get ahold of themselves to survive.
Lastly, “Right Where It Belongs” is a track that gives off a mysterious and intriguing vibe brought by its hauntingly beautiful instrumentation. This track is a challenge for the listeners to check on themselves, questioning whether they’re authentically living the life that they want to live and not putting up with societal expectations. This track is a thought-provoking one, which brings us to our last track entitled “Wish.” It is an upbeat track with the abrasive rhythms provided by the violin and the gritty vibe brought by the guitars. This track is connected with a person’s long despair and restless search for authenticity towards people and the connection that they make. This song is heartbreaking and intense, with a tinge of vulnerability. A well-deserved ending to this packed collection.
Ultimately, “Peeled Back” is an album that deserves your full attention. It is fascinating to hear an accomplished cover for this phenomenal album. Goertz has given this a different kind of life – it is intense, and more importantly, it sounded top-notch. Every bit of this cover is carefully laid out. From the careful crafting of instrumentation and production of each track to the amazing vocal performance done by Goertz, it is nothing short of perfect. It is a must-listen! Allie Goertz has once again showcased the range of her vocal abilities as she efficiently transcended from one genre to another. She’s honestly making it sound so easy when it’s really not! So, check out “Peeled Back” and the artist Allie Goertz! Follow their social media accounts to learn more about this amazing artist! Be sure to stream and share the album “Peeled Back,” which is now available on all your favorite streaming platforms!
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About the Author
Born and raised in one of the 7000-ish islands in the Philippines, a self-proclaimed professional fangirl, with a degree in Biology. She probably annoy the people around her so much for not speaking and speaking too much. A frustrated writer, yes!
