Review

By Andrew Bell | 18/07/2026

Few contemporary songwriters wear heartbreak quite as convincingly as Gracie Abrams, and on Daughter From Hell she swaps teenage confessionals for something far more reflective. Rather than wallowing in romantic fallout, the singer-songwriter looks back on her younger self with surprising honesty, exploring regret, accountability and the lingering ghosts of adolescence. Longtime collaborator Aaron Dessner once again provides the album's understated sonic backbone, allowing Abrams' intimate storytelling to remain front and centre. While the familiar folk-pop palette occasionally borders on too restrained, tracks like Look At My Life and the quietly devastating Sober prove the partnership still has plenty of emotional mileage. Elsewhere, Hit The Wall, featuring Justin Vernon, opens proceedings with simmering intensity, while What If It's Right? benefits from the warm presence of Marcus Mumford. The playful Imaginary Friend, co-written with Paul Mescal, offers a welcome moment of lightness amid the emotional weight. Where Daughter From Hell occasionally stumbles is in its relentless seriousness. The dramatic imagery sometimes overwhelms the songs themselves, making moments of catharsis feel harder earned than they should. Yet Abrams' songwriting continues to mature, revealing an artist becoming increasingly comfortable with uncomfortable truths. It may not possess the immediate impact of The Secret Of Us, but Daughter From Hell is an introspective, beautifully crafted record that confirms Abrams is growing into one of pop's most compelling voices.