REVIEW OF SONGS ALBUMS VIDEOS LYRICS

Poppy Went Full Metal and I Didn’t See It Coming

I need to talk about Empty Hands.

Poppy dropped her seventh studio album on January 23, 2026, through Sumerian Records. I knew she mixed genres before. I expected experimentation.

I did not expect THIS.

This is the heaviest Poppy has ever gone. We’re talking metalcore, industrial metal, nu metal, and djent all blended together. She throws in speed metal, deathcore, and punk rock for good measure. The woman wrote every lyric herself while producer Jordan Fish helped craft the sound.

The Sound Hit Different

“Bruised Sky” sets the tone. Melodic vocals clash with raw screams over grinding guitars. The music video shows Poppy in a dystopian wasteland. The visuals match the darkness perfectly.

All 13 tracks run 38 minutes. Short. Aggressive. Focused.

The Lyrics Go Hard

Poppy wrote about romantic grief, loss, and betrayal. Critics called these “some of the most vitriolic things” she’s ever written.

I agree.

The emotional intensity translates directly into the music. Each track carries weight. Nothing feels wasted.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Empty Hands hit number 137 on the Billboard 200. Her first album to chart in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Australia put her at number 7. UK Rock & Metal Albums gave her number 2. Germany landed her at number 22.

These numbers show growth. Real growth.

The Verdict

Metacritic scored the album 71/100. Blabbermouth gave it 8.5/10 and said “Sounds like Poppy doing exactly what she wants.”

Kerrang rated it 4/5, calling it “her most chameleonic, creative body of work.”

Some critics thought she played it safe. I disagree. This album takes risks. Big ones.

What’s Next

The Constantly Nowhere Tour kicked off January 20, 2026, in Brisbane. She’s hitting Europe hard through March and April with stops across the UK, Germany, France, and Scandinavia.

Final Thoughts

Empty Hands proves Poppy belongs in the metal conversation. She earned her Grammy nomination for “Suffocate” with Knocked Loose. She topped charts with “End of You” featuring Amy Lee and Courtney LaPlante.

Now she’s delivering a full album of uncompromising heavy music.

I didn’t expect to get an album this aggressive from Poppy in 2026. But here we are. And I’m here for every second of these 38 minutes.