DIRENOTES

[THIS REVIEW WAS DONE BY GUEST WRITER NICOLE SWIDER]

I’ve had the great pleasure and honestly honor to review Juliet Ruin’s EP -Regime that consists of five really great songs: Reactance Theory, Chrysalis, Poems by a Poltergeist, The Art of Being Wise, and Regime. Now Juliet Ruin is an Alternative Metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that consists of the great talents of Jess Fleming (vocals), Kent Geislinger (guitar, bass), Wesley Rands (guitar), and Jesse Bauman (drums). So first and foremost, I tip my hat off to the musicians they are truly talented in playing the drums, guitar(s) and bass. And of course, last but by all means NOT least the vocals of Jess Fleming~~ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I would definitely pay to see them live, hands down, without hesitation! I can honestly without a doubt say Juliet Ruin is as good as groups like Jinjer and Spiritbox!

Reactance Theory is the first song on this masterpiece, and I have to say I love the tempo on this one! It just clicks perfectly with the lyrics. I know a song isn’t all about the beat, but honestly, that’s a huge part of what draws me in. I could totally see myself listening to this while writing, it’s that kind of song that just hooked me completely, and the way they drop in those growled or screamed vocals? Perfect. It hits right where it’s supposed to.

“Scars – Chaos bleeds and mends the broken heart. Feeling free I’ll make this fall apart. Balance dismay like it is an art. Chaos bleed and mend this broken heart.”

Those lyrics are deep, and pairing them with that raw, intense delivery was such a smart move. Chef’s kiss. The mix of harsh and melodic parts gives the song this gorgeous balance. I have to say it’s a beautiful but still powerful song.

Chrysalis is the next song on the EP, and honestly, it’s a great one. The balance between the melodic singing and the screaming/growling parts is done really well. I’ll admit, I personally liked how Reactance Theory handled it a bit more—but that doesn’t make this song any less. It still fits the tone of the lyrics perfectly and feels super intentional.

These lyrics honestly sound like someone fighting their own darkness, trying to crawl out of a place that feels both safe and suffocating at the same time. The constant pull between light, shadows, and sanctuary makes it feel like they’re stuck between who they were and who they’re becoming. You can feel that struggle of being awake but still haunted by the same old fears. Just amazing honestly!

When Jess says, “My flesh became the soil, I awoke with new fears,” that line hits hard. It’s like being reborn through pain…breaking down just to rebuild stronger, and when the lyrics hit with “Lead me to the light,” it doesn’t sound like begging, but more like someone taking their power back.

The vocals make it all land perfectly. The growls sound a combo of frustration and grief finally being let out, while the melodic parts carry this fragile kind of hope, like they’re learning how to breathe again. It’s dark, it’s emotional, but it’s freeing, almost like you can almost hear the chains breaking free right there in the song.

Poems by a Poltergeist feels like being stuck between love and the afterlife… the lyrics have this haunting vibe, like someone who’s both the haunted and the haunter. When they say “Angel face, creature of dreams. Formidable devil, spaces between,” it’s that perfect mix of beauty and danger… soft but powerful, eerie but kind of mesmerizing.

There’s this constant feeling of being seen but never fully reached. “If I’m trapped here, what does it mean?” hits that loneliness right in the chest. The lyrics play with this tug-of-war between light and dark, like love itself is a curse that keeps looping.

The growled parts? They sound like pure emotion breaking loose… like possession through heartbreak. And Jess’s melodic parts are just stunning. Her vibrato makes everything feel otherworldly, almost like the song is breathing. It’s haunting, emotional, and honestly feels like beauty and chaos just wrapped around each other.

The Art of Being Wise feels like coming to terms with your own chaos… like realizing not every storm means destruction. The lyrics hit that space between acceptance and breaking free. “Been feeding off the silence. See you in ultraviolet. Can taste dishonesty like I’m the one who tried to hide it.” That line just hits… raw, and real in the best way.

When the chorus comes in with “Let this change us… you’re not a poison, neither am I…” it’s such a moment. It’s not about blame anymore, it’s about learning, growing, and choosing to start again. That’s what makes it feel so human… like you can breathe again after holding everything in for too long.

Jess’s vocals are absolutely incredible here. She moves from soft and reflective to strong and soaring with so much control. Her tone carries every emotion like she’s living the words while singing them. You can hear the ache, the clarity, and the hope all tangled together. And the instruments just bring it all home. The guitar is rich and expressive, the bass gives this deep steady heartbeat that pulls you in, and the drums are powerful without ever drowning the rest out. Together they build that perfect wave for Jess’s voice to rise and crash against. It’s the kind of song that leaves you quiet for a second after it ends… like your mind’s still catching up to what your heart just felt.

Last, but by all means, not the least is the song regime. I personally find this song to be just as amazing as the rest of the EP.

Regime hits like a storm. It’s angry, powerful, and painfully honest. From the moment Jess growls “What do you want from me?” it pulls you straight into that feeling of frustration and defiance. It doesn’t sound like anger for the sake of being loud. It’s the kind that comes from being tired of expectations, tired of pretending, tired of being the one who holds it all together.

The lyrics dig into that tension between control and collapse. “Calming mind, internal rage, keeping me precious in a cage” feels like trying to keep your cool while everything inside you burns. When the chorus comes back around, it feels like release. Like someone finally saying, I’ve had enough.

Jess’s vocals are out of this world in this one. The way she shifts between that deep melodic control and those raw growls feels almost supernatural. Every scream sounds like it’s ripped straight from her soul, but even in the chaos, she never loses her tone. You can hear every emotion, every ounce of fight in her voice.

The band matches that energy perfectly. The guitar feels sharp and unrelenting, the bass drives underneath like an echoing pulse, and the drums tie it all together with this heavy, deliberate rhythm that keeps everything from flying apart. Regime feels like rebellion turned into music. It’s the sound of breaking free, calling out everything fake, and finally refusing to carry what was never yours.

All in all for the entire EP I have to say a MAJOR HATS OFF & CHEF’S KISS! This was a truly enjoyable EP to listen to for my first music review in such a long time! I for one truly hope to see them live because honestly they are just amazing!!! I personally think that Jess, Wesley, Kent, and Jesse are truly amazing at what they do and I will DEFINITELY be keeping an eye out for their albums/EPs, because this writer could most definitely write while listening to them perform. JULIET RUIN is by far, I have to say, a new FAV of mine!

-NIKKI SWIDER-