Heaven & Hell

by Ava Max

Overview

Following years of buildup and a whopping eight singles, Ava Max finally delivered her first official studio full-length, Heaven & Hell. Well worth the extended promotion, the album is a masterful pop debut, one of those might-as-well-be-a greatest-hits collections like Lady Gaga's The Fame, Dua Lipa's self-titled LP, or Katy Perry's One of the Boys. Indeed, Max is a kindred spirit with those hitmakers, both in vocal delivery and her knack for picking out an effective earworm, of which there is an embarrassing abundance on Heaven & Hell. Thematically divided into those two titular sides, the album takes that well-worn dichotomy and splits the track list between energetic bops and moodier -- but no less catchy -- doses of dark pop, all bound together by primary producer Cirkut (Marina, Katy Perry, Kim Petras). Opening with the swirling electronic "H.E.A.V.E.N.," the first half features Max's high-energy empowerment anthem "Kings & Queens"; the sleek, bass-driven "Naked"; the bouncy disco-funk "OMG What's Happening"; and "Tattoo," which sounds like a 2010 time-warp collaboration between Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen. Although every song is a potential hit, "Born to the Night" is a standout, a blissful dose of shimmering synths and '80s-inspired groove that evokes similar moments on Gaga's Born This Way. On the shadowy side of things, Max sheds her wide-eyed and lovelorn optimism, erecting protective barriers and revealing a sharp set of claws. Demanding better treatment from a lackluster lover, she reminds, "I'm not a bite/I'm a five course meal" on the cautionary "Take You to Hell." Later, on the sly kiss-off "Who's Laughing Now," she rides a Clean Bandit/Ace of Base island groove into the sunset, laughing mischievously as the person who wronged her is left in the dust. Pulsing mainstream hits "So Am I," "Salt," and global smash "Sweet but Psycho" also occupy this side, but it's the slow-burning "Belladonna" that really digs in its teeth, a menacing synth-washed warning that equates Max with the deadly nightshade. There's not a moment wasted over the course of these 15 tracks, and she is clever enough to balance the immediate jams with satisfying deep cuts like "Born to the Night" and "Belladonna," providing a break from the action and intensity with earworms that are no less effective. Heaven & Hell is an expertly crafted gem, showcasing the young hitmaker's burgeoning star power, relatable personality, and sonic range. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2020
Label:	Atlantic
UPC:	0075678647277

Tracks

1. Heaven
2. Kings & Queens
3. Naked
4. Tattoo
5. OMG What's Happening
6. Call Me Tonight
7. Born to the Night
8. Torn
9. Take You to Hell
10. Who's Laughing Now
11. Belladonna
12. Rumors
13. So Am I
14. Salt
15. Sweet But Psycho

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ava Max   Primary Artist,Vocals
Shellback   Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Drums
Noonie Bao   Vocals (Background)
Amanda Ava Koci   Vocals
Strut   Keyboards
Madison Love   Vocals (Background)
Henry Walter   Keyboards
Lotus IV   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Shellback   Producer,Programming,Composer
Jacob Kasher   Composer
Nicole Morier   Composer
Jessie Malakouti   Composer
Nadir Khayat   Composer
RedOne   Producer
Autumn Rowe   Composer
Jason Gill   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Elof Loelv   Composer
Thomas Eriksen   Composer
Hank Solo   Producer,Additional Production
Hillary Bernstein   Composer
Mimoza Blinsson   Composer
Noonie Bao   Composer
Jakke Erixson   Composer
Fridolin Walcher   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Christoph Bauss   Composer
Cirkut   Mixing,Engineer,Musician,Producer,Recording,Vocal Engineer,Vocal Producer,Executive Producer
Andreas Haukeland   Composer
Sorana Pacurar   Composer
Tia Scola   Composer
Ava Max   Executive Producer
Trackside   Producer
Roland Spreckley   Composer,Lyricist
Amanda Ava Koci   Composer,Lyricist
Earwulf   Producer
Gigi Grombacher   Composer,Lyricist
Martin Sue   Composer,Lyricist
Strut   Engineer,Producer,Programming
Ryan Flanagan   Project Manager
Nili Harary   A&R
Khristian Araneda   Composer
Alexei Potekhin   Composer
Serban Ghenea   Mixing
Sergei Zhukov   Composer
Chris Gehringer   Mastering
John Hanes   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Desmond Child   Composer
Peter Schilling   Composer
Rollo   Composer
Sam Gray   Composer
Linus Wiklund   Composer
Bonnie McKee   Composer
Timofei Crudu   Composer
Maria Jane Smith   Composer,Lyricist
Diederik Van Elsas   Composer
Brett McLaughlin   Composer
Tove Lo   Composer
Ludvig Soederberg   Composer
Jakob Jerlstrom   Composer
William Lobban-Bean   Composer
Jonas Becker   Composer
Mans Wredenberg   Composer
Samuel Denison Martin   Composer
Victor Thell   Composer,Lyricist,Additional Production
Sam Martin   Composer
Madison Love   Composer
Parrish Warrington   Composer
Henri Salonen   Composer
Charlie Puth   Composer
Henry Walter   Composer,Lyricist
Lotus IV   Producer
Jonas Blue   Producer
Jim Lavigne   Composer
Itai Schwartz   Engineer
Sean Myer   Additional Production