MANNEQUIN PUSSY, I GOT HEAVY

Not many album covers grab my attention anymore. Just about everything has been done that can be done. But I was struck by the cover Mannequin Pussy’s new, fourth album, I got Heaven. A nude woman and a pig. Is she leading the pig to safety or slaughter? And why no clothes? This imagery reflects the album’s central themes of introspection and decision-making. Lead singer Marisa Dabice explains, “When you think about the relationships between beast and man, it really shows the type of person you are… Do you want to care for them and protect them? Or do you see them as fodder and something to be slaughtered?” Dabice’s use of nudity symbolizes solitude and self-discovery, as she has said, “At the end of the day, it’s just you and your body.”

I Got Heaven is a visceral, evocative punk/alt-rock record that tackles societal and personal themes with intensity. It explores the demonization of women and queer people, the struggle for self-acceptance, and the power found in solitude. These ideas are presented with raw emotion, making them both deeply urgent and relatable. Mannequin Pussy’s identities inevitably place their work within a political context. Dabice critiques the oppressive influence of Christianity in America, particularly the weaponization of shame: “If someone can make you ashamed of who you are, Dabice has said in an interview, then ultimately, they’ve won. 

The album becomes a sonic resistance against societal norms while maintaining an unrelenting punk ethos. The title track exemplifies the album’s duality, blending rage-filled verses with transcendent choruses. Dabice’s dark, critical humor adds accessibility to even the heaviest themes, giving the record a sharp, self-aware edge. Reflecting on humor, Dabice has said it became part of the creative process, balancing the weight of deeper discussions about humanity's violent relationship with nature and itself.

I Got Heaven is both a call to self-reflection and a fearless critique of societal pressures. Dabice encapsulates the band’s ethos perfectly: “We’re a paradox—absolutely righteous and utterly brazen.” Through intellect, irreverence, and relentless punk energy, Mannequin Pussy delivers an album that’s as thought-provoking as it is visceral.