Chloe Lilac is back, and she's not holding back. "Sawed Off Shotgun" is her thunderous return to the indie-rock fold after a two-year break, and it's a statement of purpose. Grimy, cinematic, and dripping with tension, "Sawed Off Shotgun" combines raw vulnerability with unapologetic strength, letting the world know Chloe Lilac is ready to disrupt.
A perverse sibling to the traditional murder ballad, "Sawed Off Shotgun," is less about bloodshed than it is about the body temperature of passion and obsession. "Sawed Off Shotgun" begins with a percolating bassline and bloodless percussion, which makes way for Chloe's low-key-yet-menacing vocal delivery. A wash of simmering synths and early-2000s vocal filters slowly builds the tension until it finally bursts free in the hook: "I've got a sawed-off shotgun, but I'd hold out for you. The glimpse of aching exposure gets immediately consumed with an electrifying drop, where synths twist and the beat dances, teetering into chaos, just like the multifaceted feelings fueling "Sawed Off Shotgun."
Chloe Lilac's latest, "Sawed Off Shotgun," reintroduces her as an artist unafraid of darkness and one who applies it liberally to an alt-pop anthem that deserves to be screamed over blasting speakers. Longtime fans will revel in the return of her signature grit, while new fans will take note as she launches into her fearless narratives and cutting-edge sound.