There’s no denying that Swiss singer Melissa Bonny has quite a magnificent tone to her voice. Couple that with a rigorous work ethic, and you’re bound to get a success story, which she capitalized on two fronts – firstly with her bands, AD INFINITUM and THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, and secondly with her solo effort, “Cherry Red Apocalypse.” Her studio and live collaborations with KAMELOT seem like a well-earned bonus, at this point. But we are here today to celebrate her debut album, “Cherry Red Apocalypse,” which was independently released on January 23rd, 2026.
First and foremost, I have to say that this album is not what I expected it to be, and I am so happy for it. When the first couple of singles got released – “I’m a Monster” and “Snake Bite” – I thought “Cherry Red Apocalypse” would be a simple, rock affair mostly built on melodic dynamics and dual vocals. But then the beautiful and emotional “Snow on Mars” got released, and it absolutely floored me, not just because of how exquisite Melissa Bonny’s voice is, but also because of the atmosphere and lyrical depth. Then “Devil on My Tongue” was offered as a last taste of the album before its release, and it got me thinking that there are so many more nuances and textures on this album to explore and, most importantly, experience.
After the rock-ish energy of both “I’m a Monster” and “Snake Bite,” the album settles into a steady flow of free-flowing melodies and unfolds beautifully with layers of textures and nuances, moving through a variety of moods and soundscapes. It’s such a vibrant blend of metal, pop, and rock, and at the center of it all is Melissa Bonny’s versatile and passionate delivery. The fact that we get to hear not only so many influences in the music itself but also so many nuances of her voice is a testament to her creativity and songcraft, showing different aspects of herself. This is the best thing about solo albums – they present a much fuller picture of a musician besides what we get to see from them within a band (or even multiple projects). And “Cherry Red Apocalypse” fully capitalizes on the artistic freedom that a solo work grants, as the songs are not just personal and honest, but also bold and diverse.
Another strong point of this album is the way Melissa Bonny manages to showcase so many different influences on individual songs, yet still puts everything together into one cohesive unit. As such, “Devil on My Tongue” feels a bit bluesy in its (killer) bass lines yet it crackles with a rousing pop energy wonderfully carried by the vocal melody and some sparkling synths while “The Teeth of My Thieves” is a more intimate and vulnerable moment until the full-power of its chorus hits and gives the track an incredible momentum carried by a guitar lead that ultimately culminates into a stunning guitar solo. Up next, “Afterglow” is an up-tempo, uplifting, and all-around cool little rock number that buzzes with a refreshing feel-good energy, boosted by a chorus section that is more melodic than catchy but still delivers all the vibes as the focal point of the song. Then we arrive at the candid and beautifully stripped-down ballad “Highs and Lows,” which impresses not just through the emotional vocals but also through the serene acceptance of the fact that the human experience offers both high points and low points, and we should embrace both sides. Goosebumps are most definitely assured!
As a further showcase of how this album is breaking down rules and doing things differently, “Crescent Moon Interlude” is not an orchestral piece, or an ambient passage, or even a short song, and, even if it features Adrienne Cowan (SEVEN SPIRES) and Fabienne Erni (ELUVEITIE, ILLUMISHADE) alongside Melissa, we don’t get even a harmonized vocal melody from them. That’s because it’s a spoken word affair about the mystical symbolism of the crescent moon and the cathartic power of creating music as each of the three singers reflects and ruminates on “the ritual or creating art, especially music.” And with that, the second part of the album gets rolling, pushed forward by the expressive and vibrant “Spellbound” and its daring fusion of modern-sounding metal, trance beats, and pop melodies while the title track, “Cherry Red Apocalypse,” soars high on pop sensibilities, uplifting melodies, and an undeniable playful vibe.
The absolute surprise of this album comes on free-flowing melodies packaged in a 90’s pop-rock style and bearing the title “I Don’t Like You.” This is such a fun, addictive, and lively track that will get you dancing in no time. If the vibes were good until now, this track pushes the vibes and feel-good energy into the stratosphere. Up next, the kinetic “Oh no!” keeps the momentum going with driving rhythms and keeps the energy levels up with a great rock attitude heard in the guitars and drums that underpin some great melodies. The final stretch of the album contains the deeply emotional and disarmingly personal “Mama, Let Me Go,” a story about starting over and all the mixed emotions such a decision unavoidably stirs up gently carried by raw vocals (both in English and French) and subtle instrumentals; then there’s the delightful “Snow on Mars” as a rather poignant album closer that winds everything down with powerful emotions and cinematic soundscapes.
In conclusion, “Cherry Red Apocalypse” is better experienced than just read about, as no amount of descriptions, adjectives, or clever twists of phrases could ever do this batch of songs justice. So go to your favorite streaming platform a hit play on “Cherry red Apocalypse” and bask in all the awesomeness it has to offer because, while Melissa Bonny’s voice is at the center of everything, there are so many other musical details, nuances, and textures to be discovered even after repeated listeners, it’s worth playing and replaying it again and again. Moreover, this album is a good example of how good music is good music no matter what genre it channels, as the songs flow through so many different soundscapes and moods, mixing together a variety of styles that range from metal and rock to pop and alternative with much else in between without ever dropping in quality. This, in turn, is a testament to Melissa Bonny and her desire to push boundaries and write songs without worrying about labels or even expectations. And this is how this album should be approached – not as something that should easily fit into a certain framework but as a fearfully unrestrained yet deeply sincere creative manifesto.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
01. I’m A Monster
02. Snake Bite (feat. Yu Umehara)
03. Devil On My Tongue
04. The Teeth Of My Thieves
05. Afterglow
06. Highs And Lows
07. Crescent Moon Interlude (feat. Adrienne Cowan & Fabienne Erni)
08. Spellbound
09. Cherry Red Apocalypse
10. I Don’t Like You
11. Oh No!
12. Mama, Let Me Go
13. Snow On Mars
Lineup
- Melissa Bonny – Vocals
- Adrian Thessenvitz – Guitar
- Hanz Platz – Guitar
- Jonas Wolf – Guitar
- Korbinian Benedict – Bass
- Vikram Shankar – Keyboards
- Morten Løwe Sørensen – Drums
Label
Independent
