CHARLOTTE IN CAGE is a metal band formed in Salerno, Italy in late 2015, born out of ideas between Susanna Angelino and Marianna Forino with Annalisa Barra joining months later. The bands noble vision is to "give a voice to all the women who never surrender," and cite music acts such as KITTIE, HOLE, PUSSY RIOT, and MARILYN MANSON as influences.

"Times of Anger" opens with an angry alt-rock riff that definitely sounds like MARILYN MANSON's "Born Villian" era. "Liar" goes into a hypnotic melody at brief periods, but the song retains the same angry riff, with beautiful vocal harmonies coupled with screamed vocals. "I Hate Myself" opens with guitar lick and 4/4 beat that give off an overall positive vibe, but giving off the sense that something isn't quite right with riffage that could be characterized as grungy. Stafania's impressive vocal talent is most pronounced on this track, and further on the following track "Yours Faithfully," along with some viciously brutal screams that may be credited to Susanna.

The album seems to take on a sadder tone with "Dionisus," a haunting track with heavy synth and layered vocals, still retaining the alt-rock feel towards the end with melancholic chord progressions. "13 Years Old" is an emotional outpouring that is quite possibly a personal track. The title track of the album, "Times of Anger" exemplifies the bands overall message of fighting oppression and injustice against women. "Monster I Became" opens with organs and droney vocals, soon transitioning into something this writer can only describe as "spooky sounding." A catchy chorus and a guitar solo sprinkled on, it is a fair penultimate track, the album soon ending with "The Plastic Beast," atmospheric synth and layered guitars that pair well the passionate clean vocals, never relenting on periods of pure rage.

Overall, I greatly admire the work CHARLOTTE IN CAGE is doing, but it seems the quartet needs more time to shed the "riot metal" label they became known for in their beginnings, as it seems they are still trying to distinguish themselves from that sound. I may be wrong and this just may not be the band for me.