Words by: Sam Walker-Smart
Despite barely being out of their teens, the Brooklyn trio Hello Mary has already been making waves. Their 2023 self-titled album garnered attention from industry legends Rolling Stone and KEXP, while recent festival appearances in the UK have only amplified the buzz surrounding these trailblazing noisemakers. Now, on Sept. 13, the young outfit will release their third full-length album, Emita Ox, an impressive evolution from their 90s alt-rock-influenced sound. Formed during the turbulent years of the COVID-19 pandemic, bandmembers Helena Straight (guitar/vocals), Stella Wave (drums/vocals), and Mikaela Oppenheimer (bass) join a wave of Gen Z artists embracing the abrasive sounds of three decades-old guitar music. Luckily for listeners, they approach the genre with a more experimental eye.
While last year’s self-titled album showcased the band’s youthful energy and influences—like “Looking Into the Sun,” which blends Nirvana’s intensity with the Smashing Pumpkins’ dreaminess—Emita Ox reveals the trio’s rapid maturation. The grungy riffs are still present when needed, but post-rock elements and a sense of haunting paranoia dominate. This is a coming-of-age record, marked by intense shades of rage, catharsis, and beauty. Like life itself, no song strictly follows its intended route; just when things seem settled, there’ll be a big crash of drama.
The second track, “0%,” embodies the album’s spirit perfectly. This art-rock stomper opens with Oppenheimer’s bass taking the lead, so powerful it threatens to blow a speaker if cranked too high. Then, as Straight’s screaming guitar and vocals reach a fever pitch, the song melts away, mirroring the sound of fellow New York noise-punk heroes Sonic Youth. It displays a newfound confidence in song arrangement, blending seamlessly with the band’s beautiful melodies and bruising riffs.
“Down My Life” sees the group’s skillful balance of masculine and feminine elements. In three hypnotic minutes, the group harmonizes over the song’s nocturnal skittishness to create an unsettling effect that would make Radiohead’s Thom Yorke proud. The album wisely loosens up musically on the back half of the LP, with “Courtesy” and “Bubble” proving to be Emita Ox’s catchiest moments while retaining the emotive core that glues everything together. The acoustically driven closer, “Everything We Do,” also offers a perfect bittersweet moment as Straight reflects on wasted summer days and missing loved ones.
With their third album, Hello Mary has poured significant musical and personal growth into a record that is, at times, unsettling, haunting, and beautiful. In a landscape increasingly crowded with young acts brandishing fuzz pedals, Hello Mary has wisely focused on expanding their sonic palette to stand out. At times, Emita Ox feels like a transitional record, and with some songs dating back to 2018, that makes sense. However, when it connects, it really connects, showcasing a depth and fearlessness rarely seen in such a young band. These 11 tracks completely validate the outfit’s early buzz and establish Hello Mary as an act to watch closely. Where they go next is anyone’s guess, and that’s the most exciting part.
CONE Mag Score: 75/100