After stepping into her rightful place in the spotlight as the mastermind behind PVRIS, Lyndsey Gunnulfsen pushed the possibilities (and expectations) of her project's sound to new limits, breaking boundaries and incorporating other styles into her own thrilling alt-rock hybrid. With PVRIS' fourth full-length, Evergreen, her evolution continues, building upon the promise of 2020's Use Me while laser-focusing her attack with equal parts melody and sheer force. An ineffably angst-packed energy surges through the front half of this set, from the gnashing opener "I Don't Wanna Do This Anymore," which rides pulsating electronic backing, traditional riff-and-drum power, and Gunnulfsen's frustrated cries, to the cinematic beast "Take My Nirvana," a Mike Shinoda-assisted standout where a head-bobbing hip-hop beat, swirling effects, and electrifying rock bounce collide to maximum effect. Other super-charged highlights include the buzzsaw grind of "Goddess" -- a rousing empowerment anthem where Gunnulfsen proclaims "I'm a motherf*cking brand" while urging listeners to "Dance, goddess, dance!" -- and the lurching near-metal of the biting "Hype Zombies." Pogoing pop-punk ("Good Enemy"), pseudo-nu-metal (the defiant "Animal"), and hypnotic alt-R&B ("Headlights," "Love Is Aâ?¦") also creep their way into the vibrant mix. The latter half of the LP cools down with the pop-kissed "Senti-Mental" -- a midtempo earworm that showcases her vocal prowess and makes the album's best bid for a radio crossover hit -- and eases into a vulnerable, contemplative space until the closing title track. "Anywhere But Here" rises to the top of the pack, a stunningly gorgeous moment awash with haunted trip-hop atmospherics, lush production, and an urgent sense of yearning. Altogether, Evergreen is a masterfully executed maturation that launches Gunnulfsen forward into fresh, fearless territory. ~ Neil Z. Yeung