Released: 27 June
Music For Nations/Sony Music
Manchester emo-pop trailblazers Hot Milk return this week with their sophomore album, Corporation P.O.P. On their boldest release yet, Han Mee and James Shaw launch into a new era that fuses biting social commentary with a deeper dive into darker emotional terrain. The result? It’s their most distinct and defiant sonic identity to date.
“Corporation P.O.P is a flurry of thoughts, feelings, ramblings from the afters and questions about where we’re at right now in England, the further western world and emotionally. It is an entry from the perspective of us lot who live a dichotomy of months in faraway lands and then experience the sudden grounding of returning home to Salford. It’s hard not to compare, contrast and try to understand. P.O.P = Payment of Pain. We all must live with the burden of modernity and this pain has been commodified; we all must pay. Corporation pop itself is a term Han’s grandad used to refer to the water supply, something that runs throughout all our homes, just as current events run through us all.”
– James Shaw, Hot Milk co-vocalist/guitarist/producer
Co-produced by Hot Milk’s own Jim Shaw, Corporation P.O.P marks the band’s heaviest and most defiant statement to date. From the very first note of opener ‘(How Do I) Make the Devil Fall Asleep’, the record descends into a catastrophic whirlwind of sound, where noise, emotion and fury crash together in controlled chaos.
‘INSUBORDINATE INGERLAND‘ sees the band dive headfirst into a fiery, politically charged anthem. Equal parts social commentary and rock-fuelled aggression, it’s loud, it’s pointed and yes, it packs a punchy pop punk breakdown with Jim screaming like his life depends on it.
The intensity only escalates on ‘The American Machine‘, where metalcore angst takes the wheel and the duo’s rage hits a new frequency. Did Jim just drop his first “blegh”? Possibly. Subtle, but present, like a war cry buried in the noise. With its unruly punk spirit, the track echoes the energy of ‘California’s Burning‘, while its glitchy electronics flow seamlessly into the next gear.
Enter ‘Hell Is On Its Way‘, a full-throttle shift into sweaty warehouse rave territory. Drum’n’bass beats take centre stage, signaling a sharp sonic pivot that’s as jarring as it is exhilarating. For longtime fans, this is where the band’s power-pop roots resurface; punchy melodies laced with a love letter to the UK’s underground scene. You’ll want to ‘Swallow This‘ on repeat.
Think Corporation P.O.P is just about turning the volume up? Think again. While undoubtedly their most ear-splitting effort to date, the album thrives in genre-bending alchemy where rebellion meets reflection. ‘Chase the Dragon‘ calls back to Hot Milk’s earlier work, marrying vibrant pop chords with emotional depth, all while reinforcing the record’s socio-political backbone. It’s familiar, but never safe.
The punchy ‘90 Seconds to Midnight‘ ignites this new chapter with fire and fury, while ‘Sunburn From Your Bible‘ unleashes a maelstrom of blastbeats and bedlam for the metalcore faithful. Guided by a post-apocalyptic vision, Han and Jim’s vocals weave a haunting dance between light and ruin; it’s tethered to chaos, yet achingly precise.
‘Warehouse Salvation‘ stands as the beating heart of Corporation P.O.P. This one’s a high-octane standout drenched in 90s rave nostalgia. Pulsing with underground dancefloor energy, it sees Jim take the reins while Han subtly recedes into the shadows, letting the track’s hypnotic momentum speak for itself. It’s a fierce homage to the band’s Manchester roots, where industrial grit meets euphoric release. Then, just when the tempo peaks, the floor drops out and delivers the album’s most thunderous, metalcore-laced breakdown yet.
The record never loses momentum. Its final three tracks hit just as hard as those that came before. ‘Payment of Pain‘ carries the trance-like euphoria forward, anchored by the haunting refrain, “what’s my blood worth?” Han and Jim’s voices intertwine across pulsing synths and hypnotic rhythms, colliding in a swirl of beautiful chaos.
Then comes ‘Asphyxiate‘, an emotional power-pop ballad that adds another layer to the record’s beauty and ache. Han takes centre stage with raw vulnerability, delivering a performance that balances stylised vocals with gut-punch honesty. It’s both tender and defiant, a moment of stillness that stays true to Hot Milk’s wear-your-heart-on-sleeve ethos.
‘Sympathy Symphony‘ serves as the final act in this socially-charged theatrical ride, closing the album just as hard as it opened. It eases in gently, but I urge you to listen with intent. What unfolds feels almost operatic, slowly building to one last powerful crescendo. As thunderous drums crash in and the white flag is raised, it’s a finale soaked in defiance, determination and heart. A fitting curtain call that ties the entire record together beautifully.
Corporation P.O.P captures Hot Milk at their most unapologetic and unfiltered. Where past releases hinted at rebellion, this record roars with politically charged intent, turning frustration into fire and protest into power. As the world teeters on the edge, overrun by tyrants and chaos, Hot Milk deliver a sharp reminder that there’s still room to scream, dance and celebrate the small wins. Even if everything’s burning.
Rating: 9/10
Review by Tamara May
Purchase Corporation P.O.P here
Hot Milk – Corporation P.O.P tracklisting:
1. (How Do I) Make the Devil Fall Asleep
2. INSUBORDINATE INGERLAND
3. The American Machine
4. Hell Is On Its Way
5. Swallow This
6. Machine Elves (Interlude)
7. Chase the Dragon
8. 90 Seconds to Midnight
9. Sunburn From Your Bible
10. Warehouse Salvation
11. Sediments (Interlude)
12. Asphyxiate
13. Payment of Pain
14. Sympathy Symphony
