Izzy Spears
Monstar
(KRO Records)
3.5/5
American musician and songwriter Izzy Spears showcases a fusion of rock, rap, and hip-hop on debut EP Monstar. The songs are sparked by his anger at past relationships, and even if you don’t closely listen to the words, that anger can be felt from the forceful tone used to deliver them.
Spears’ songs are not easy listening and can feel disheartening to the listener, but, although he appeals to a select audience, the experimentation done with sound distortion and his deviation from traditional views of sexuality could be appreciated by lovers of many different kinds of music.
While Spears shines a light on how painful LGBTQ+ relationships can be, contrary to many Pride anthems we’ve heard on the radio, he is constantly accompanied by an electronic beat you’ll end up tapping your foot to, often beginning the songs with an instrumental opening to set the tone before jumping into his more morbid verses.