Following years of buildup and a whopping eight singles,
Ava Max
finally delivered her first official studio full-length,
Heaven & Hell
. Well worth the extended promotion, the album is a masterful pop debut, one of those might-as-well-be-a greatest-hits collections like
Lady Gaga
's
The Fame
,
Dua Lipa
self-titled LP
, or
Katy Perry
One of the Boys
. Indeed,
Max
is a kindred spirit with those hitmakers, both in vocal delivery and her knack for picking out an effective earworm, of which there is an embarrassing abundance on
. Thematically divided into those two titular sides, the album takes that well-worn dichotomy and splits the track list between energetic bops and moodier -- but no less catchy -- doses of dark pop, all bound together by primary producer
Cirkut
(
Marina
Kim Petras
). Opening with the swirling electronic "H.E.A.V.E.N.," the first half features
's high-energy empowerment anthem "Kings & Queens"; the sleek, bass-driven "Naked"; the bouncy disco-funk "OMG What's Happening"; and "Tattoo," which sounds like a 2010 time-warp collaboration between
Perry
and
Carly Rae Jepsen
. Although every song is a potential hit, "Born to the Night" is a standout, a blissful dose of shimmering synths and '80s-inspired groove that evokes similar moments on
Gaga
Born This Way
. On the shadowy side of things,
sheds her wide-eyed and lovelorn optimism, erecting protective barriers and revealing a sharp set of claws. Demanding better treatment from a lackluster lover, she reminds, "I'm not a bite/I'm a five course meal" on the cautionary "Take You to Hell." Later, on the sly kiss-off "Who's Laughing Now," she rides a
Clean Bandit
/
Ace of Base
island groove into the sunset, laughing mischievously as the person who wronged her is left in the dust. Pulsing mainstream hits "So Am I," "Salt," and global smash "Sweet but Psycho" also occupy this side, but it's the slow-burning "Belladonna" that really digs in its teeth, a menacing synth-washed warning that equates
with the deadly nightshade. There's not a moment wasted over the course of these 15 tracks, and she is clever enough to balance the immediate jams with satisfying deep cuts like "Born to the Night" and "Belladonna," providing a break from the action and intensity with earworms that are no less effective.
is an expertly crafted gem, showcasing the young hitmaker's burgeoning star power, relatable personality, and sonic range. ~ Neil Z. Yeung