Cassidy Paris – ‘Bittersweet’

(Frontiers Music)

There’s a certain joy that comes from watching an artist step into their own skin, when the promise hinted at in earlier EP’s and singles finally crystallizes into something fully realized, confident, and crackling with personality. With Bittersweet, Cassidy Paris doesn’t just take that step; she practically sprints across the finish line with a feather adorned mic stand and a grin that says she knew she had this in her pocket the whole time.

From the opening moments, Bittersweet feels like the kind of record made by someone who grew up inhaling the fizz of late 80’s and early 90’s melodic rock but refuses to simply cosplay the past. Instead, Paris filters those influences through a modern lens that’s sharp, youthful and refreshingly self-directed. The result is an album that knows exactly what it’s doing and has no interest in apologizing for being catchy as hell.

The album kicks off with the one-two punch of ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Nothing Left To Lose’ that sets the tone: guitars bright enough to blind a stadium lighting tech, hooks engineered for instant sing-alongs and a vocal performance that lands somewhere between heartfelt diary entry and rock club dare. Paris's voice is the secret weapon here, not because she belts the loudest, but because she knows how to ride the emotional wave of each track. She can flick from sweet to sassy, vulnerable to venomous, in the space of a single chorus. It’s a balancing act that many melodic rock newcomers never fully master, but Paris handles it like she’s been doing this since birth.

Lyrically, Bittersweet lives comfortably in the messy, electric world of young adulthood, relationships that burn too hot, self-doubt that won’t stay buried, the fire of wanting more than what you're handed. Yet even when the subject matter dips into heartache, the music never wallows. Instead, Paris delivers her emotive vocals with a chin up resilience.

One of the record’s standout strengths is its pacing. Too often, melodic rock albums start with a bang and fade into predictable mid-tempo mush, but Bittersweet avoids that trap. The sequencing is almost suspiciously smart. Just when you think the album might settle into comfortable territory, a riff sneaks in with a little more bite or Paris tilts her vocal phrasing into something that feels more feral, more urgent.

Something that stands out is the emotional arc woven through the record. Paris dives into heartbreak, manipulation, confusion and self-doubt, but always with an undercurrent of strength. When she’s singing about being broken, she’s already stitching herself back together. When she’s angry, she’s purposeful. When she’s vulnerable, she’s sharp. It’s that duality, bitterness and sweetness, that gives the album its identity.

The mid-album track ‘Can’t Let Go’ feels like the emotional core of the record. It’s here that Paris pulls the curtain back a bit further, letting the songwriting carry more vulnerability than flash. It’s still dressed in a glossy melodic rock jacket, but underneath is a human pulse you can’t ignore. These are the moments that separate artists who dabble in the genre from those who embody it.

Paris shines brightly on the mid-album stretch of tunes. Tracks dip into emotional complexity without losing momentum, shifting between sass, heartbreak, and empowerment like chapters in a diary. Even the softer moments never slip into filler, they feel intentional, reflective and strategically placed to keep the album breathing.

Of course, this being a Cassidy Paris album, the big anthems are where things heat up. There are plenty of tracks that are destined to be shouted by a crowd with fists in the air, probably in a venue that still serves beer in questionable plastic cups. And honestly, rock needs more of that.

And then there’s the closer ‘Stronger’ a statement track that ties the whole album together. It’s not just catchy; it feels triumphant. Paris ends the album not as the wounded figure who appeared in the early songs, but as the stronger, sharper version of herself who fought her way to the surface.

Production wise, everything is crisp, balanced, and sporting just enough sheen to keep the record radio-friendly without sanding down its edges. The guitars have meat on the bone, the bass hums like a warm engine, and the drums keep everything marching forward with the precision of someone who knows people will be air-drumming along. There are a few moments where the mix leans perhaps a hair too clean, those who prefer their melodic rock with more grit may raise an eyebrow, but for Paris's style, it works. This is a modern take on a classic sound, not a museum restoration.

Where Bittersweet truly shines, though, is in its sense of identity. Even with clear nods to the titans who paved the way, the album never feels derivative. Paris has carved out her own lane, youthful yet grounded, polished yet emotionally charged, nostalgic yet unmistakably current. And more importantly, she sounds like she’s enjoying every second of it. That joy, that spark, is infectious.

With Bittersweet, Cassidy Paris plants her flag firmly in the melodic rock landscape and dares anyone to tell her she doesn’t belong. It’s the kind of album that marks the beginning of an artist’s real ascent: ambitious, confident, bursting with hooks, and brimming with the kind of spirit that keeps this genre alive.

Is it perfect? Not quite. A couple of tracks lean too comfortably into formula, and there are moments where you wish she’d push the raw side of her voice even further. But these are minor quibbles in an album that otherwise feels like the announcement of a major new player in modern melodic rock.

This is a record built on big choruses, big emotions, and even bigger confidence, the kind of album that feels like a coming-of-age moment both musically and personally. If her debut showed promise, Bittersweet is the moment she stops promising and starts delivering. The magic here lies in how effortlessly Paris blends youthful pop sensibility with the shine and strut of classic AOR. She worships melody, no doubt, but she’s learned to wield attitude too.

Bittersweet is polished without being plastic, emotional without being saccharine, and catchy without being disposable. Cassidy Paris didn’t just show up, she showed up swinging. Highly recommended and one of the most exciting melodic rock statements of the year. It is modern melodic rock done right, hooky, heartfelt and confident. Cassidy Paris has levelled up, and the genre is better for it.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Turn Around And Kiss Me’

Review by Woody