Metric: Dressed To Suppress
The popular modern rockers dress for success on this cut from an upcoming seventh album. The forceful vocals of Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw's masterful guitar work shine, while the push and pull dynamics complement the theme of mating rituals.
By Kerry Doole
Metric- “Dressed To Suppress” (MMI/Universal): It has been fascinating to watch the gradual transition of Toronto band Metric from scrappy indie rock underdogs into a well-oiled modern rock machine with a following large and loyal enough to justify making the group the subject of a full-length film documentary, the recent Dreams So Real.
A new album (their seventh) is coming Sept. 21 (title TBA), and this advance track shows them firing on all cylinders.
Singer Emily Haines described the song this way: “Lyrically, 'Dressed To Suppress' explores the maze of conflicts we encounter in our attempts at finding and holding onto love; the absurd mating rituals we routinely perform; and the vast divide between the desires our appearances can imply and the way we actually feel inside.
Sonically, it’s one of the most intense songs on the album. We’re already playing it live, and it’s getting stronger every night. The contrast between the delicate, dreamy opening and the heavy riffs of the verse and chorus match the dramatic emotional shifts we all go through when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, the push and pull of retaining our own identities in love.”
Haines' full-blooded voice is in top shape, while Jimmy Shaw's muscular guitar riffs also catch the ear. Look for this to quickly become a staple of modern rock playlists. The accompanying performance video, shot by award-winning photographer and director Justin Broadbent, captures the group's kinetic energy nicely.
With Haines now keeping her more avant-garde leanings confined to her acclaimed solo projects, the Metric sound has tended to become formulaic, but with songs as strong as this, it's hard to complain.
Look for Metric's international following to consolidate and grow as they open for Smashing Pumpkins on a current major North American tour, followed by a 20-date headline tour in Europe and Great Britain in October.
Links
Publicity: Julie Booth, Freshly Pressed PR e: julie@freshlypressedpr.com
The Reklaws at Billboard Canada Women in Music in Toronto on Oct. 1, 2025.Door 24