Delilah Bon – “Evil, Hate Filled Female” album review

It’s only been three years since the release of Delilah Bon’s self titled, debut album in 2021, but it feels more like a decade has already passed. War in Ukraine, genocide happening in Palestine, 14 years of Tory imposed austerity irreversibly changed the international political and domestic social landscape we find ourselves in. 2024 is a hard year, but at least now we have a little sonic ray of sunshine shining through – Delilah’s second album titled “Evil, Hate Filled Woman”. The title, tongue-in-cheek, inspired by disgruntled messages she receives on regular basis on social media, may not sound like a ray of sunshine at all, but it is something we, and the whole wide world, desperately need right now. Just listen to any song and you will agree with me.

Album cover

There are 14 tracks on the album, 6 were released as digital singles before the album came out (“Maverick”, “Evil, Hate Filled Female”, “The Internet”, “Finally See Me”, “Volatile”, and “I’m The Best (Just Ask Your Momma)” that also came out on the 13^th of September alongside the LP) and 8 premieres. That’s about 50 minutes of music – believe me, we very rarely get an album of this length for mere £30 pounds, that’s a double LP if you are wondering! I have been very critical of the recent trend of shortening full albums to about 30 minutes, the length of a standard EP about 15 years ago. Well done to Delilah who is treating fans with respect and actually recorded enough music to fill nearly an entire hour – and the music is of top quality too, but we will get there in a moment. If you order the LP from Delilah’s website, you can choose between several bundles that contain booklets, stickers, signed pictures and other items. Those things may not really matter to an occasional listener, but Delilah’s audience is mostly young, female and LGBTQ+ and they will surely appreciate all those additions. Taylor Swift has friendship bracelets, and somebody online said that Delilah should also have her own manga comic. Great idea, actually, I would love a copy myself.

“Evil, Hate Filled Female” is very diverse – from the opening, introductory and autobiographical “Hey World”, to the incredibly fast and at times sarcastic “The Internet”, the beautifully delicate “Volatile” to rightfully furious “Epstein”. Delilah has always been a fantastic rapper, but this is where she turned her skilled delivery into a true art form. Her finest moments as a rapper? Check out the oriental music influenced “Drop Dead Delilah”, probably my favorite track of hers so far, she is fast and funny and unstoppable while having so much fun. This will doubtfully be a great live number. “Freak Alert” is another good example, but in a different way. Slow and rhythmic, filled with fragmented and ragged guitar riffs, it’s a prime nu-metal track mixing Megan Thee Stallion with Korn.

Delilah photographer by Helen Tate

Delilah doesn’t disappoint on political and social issues front either, She gives her (sometimes very explicit) piece of mind on rampart misogyny on social media (“The Internet, “I’m The Best”), violence against girls and females (“Epstein”), rape culture and transphobia (“Grown Ass Men”), lack of support for the vulnerable and the outcasts (“Finally See Me”) or blaming others for somebody’s insecurities and mistakes (“Villain”). At the same time she is very welcoming, inclusive and accepting – LQBTQ+ folks, trans, vulnerable or non-binary people will find a great ally in her and a safe space at the gigs. She is lifting up fellow female artists, her fans, everybody, who like her, wants to see the world a slightly better place for us all.

“Evil, Hate Filled Female” is an album like no other. Pop melodies, rap, hip hop, rock, metal, hard core and few other genres put together so neatly, it’s almost hard to believe that one person wrote, produced and recorded it all. Lauren Tate, performing under the moniker of Delilah Bon is absolutely extraordinary.

This album goes not to 11 but to 13. Another point for the closing number “Committed a crime” that has been described as a feminist version of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I can understand where the similarities lie, but Lauren here is closer to Doctor Demento than to Queen. The way she changes her voice, plays multiple characters, the absurdity of court system, the bonkers melody, preposterous accusations and finally getting thrown into jail creates a Kafkaesque tale that leaves you entertained but also terrified of what can happen in real life to women if we allow far right extremists to take power.

Where is the promised ray of sunshine? Actually, in every word, in every song. In her courage to speak the truth, in calling out the bullies, in being outspoken and unashamed, in being wild, untamed, absurd, funny, vulnerable, angry, pissed off and in being her true self. Not many have the bravery to do so.