• Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Aug 19, 2022
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 4767 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Demi's best album in all aspects, just perfect! The lyrics, the emotions, Demi Lovato is one of the best singers and writer of all
  2. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This is her best album! Amazing! We need to talk about the bangers 4 ever 4 me and Eat Me. Congrats, Demi. You did it again!
  3. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The only words I really have are HOLY FVCK!!! This album is experimental not only for Demi, but as an artist in the pop industry. Some of the influences on the album include The Goo Goo Dolls, Avril Lavigne, and Paramore, as well as two of the three collaborators, Royal & The Serpent and Dead Sara. This album has such a wide range of songs vocally and sonically. While this album is sexually charged, it’s also laced with anger and fiery passion for change. It’s easy to look at an artist like Demi Lovato and assume that the music will be about love or their struggles with addiction, but there’s so much more than what meets the eye. This record touches on religion, sexuality, death, and all sorts of trauma. This is a great way to ease yourself into a wide range of genres while still getting the classic Lovato treatment, a.k.a. emotions up the keister and sky high vocals.

    If you’re looking for a quick summary of the album, there are three songs I’d recommend listening to in order to get a feel for this new era of Demi:

    1. Substance. A great track about how we as a society have so easily accepted our fate in the form of nine to fives, scrolling endlessly on our phones, and enjoying surface-level instant gratification. Lovato is tired of being complacent in this living and wants more out of life, more substance. The title is also a clear subtle play on how their recovery from addiction has helped them realize these things about life.

    2. 29. This track is about a past relationship in which Lovato’s partner was 12 years older. Demi croons “Petal on the vine/Too young to drink wine/Just five years a bleeder/Student and a teacher” accompanied by a mysterious, haunting, almost twangy guitar. The lyrics will surely raise your eyebrows, especially when it’s revealed that the singer was only 17 when this relationship started. The post-chorus/bridge has some beautiful vocalizations that come back at other points. One of those reprises has Demi harmonizing with herself, bringing in those staple high notes that she is known for. It’s the definition of “twisted fantasy” all wrapped up in a song. The final nail in the coffin of the now-dead relationship is when the chorus of ‘Oh’s slowly fades with a somewhat echoing effect. It’s almost as if Lovato is in a cave and the sound is being warped by the jagged rocks on the walls. Tragedy is often beautiful, and ‘29’ is a perfect testament.

    3. 4 Ever 4 Me. While I still haven’t cracked the code on the significance behind Demi choosing to use the number ‘4’ or if it was simply an aesthetic decision, I can confidently say that the songstress is in L.O.V.E. Demi’s voice is full of hope on this Goo Goo Dolls inspired song. In an interview, Lovato states that the song “Iris” is more specifically the muse behind the sixteenth and final track. She sings of meeting her partner’s mother and thanking her for raising the man she’s with. The lyrics are simple yet stellar, and I believe them to be some of the most relatable lyrics across Demi Lovato’s entire discography. If you’ve ever fallen in love and known it was more than just a trainwreck waiting to happen, you’ll know exactly how Demi feels when she sings “When we’re alone/Time floats away/We stare at each other”. It shows just how powerful love can be and that when you’re with ‘the one’ the trivial worries (and even some of the big ones) seem like no big deal.

    My personal favorite track? Dead Friends.

    The title is daunting, and it’s one hundred percent about dead friends. It’s no secret that Demi Lovato struggles with addiction. And while there are tracks on the album that elaborate on that journey more, (e.g. Skin of My Teeth, Help Me, and Feed) this song is about the people that didn’t survive that battle. Over the years, Demi has unfortunately lost a lot of friends due to overdoses and addiction-related deaths. This isn’t only the celebrities you’ve read death headlines about in the news like Mac Miller or DMX, this is about people that Demi met along her road to recovery like her late friend Tommy. The song is anthemic and upbeat, while still keeping the respect for the fallen at the forefront. Lovato even asks why she survived her near-fatal 2018 overdose and others died, diving into the harrowing feelings of survivor’s guilt. Whether you or someone you know has dealt with substance abuse or not, whether you’ve lost friends, family, or pets, this song will hit you in ways you expected, but weren’t truly ready for. Lovato also hits the highest note in their register (aside from their whistle notes, which can happen even when they’re simply LAUGHING) with a showstopping Bb5. It’s insanely high and sounds like something you’d hear when your old TV would go to the *beloved* standby channel. It’s a beautiful tribute to the angels the Earth has lost.
    Expand
  4. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    É o melhor álbum de Demi sem dúvidas. Tantos temas que elu abordou neste trabalho, é extremamente incrível. No estilo que Demi gosta, vocais perfeitos, letras tocantes. Holy Fvck é o álbum do ano!
  5. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. She is one of the best vocalits of our generation ! Her best album until date ! Expand
  6. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    ROCK PERFECTION! So well written, thought and produced! You did it, Demi! So proud of this record!
  7. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    As someone who grew up with pop/rock music, I'm so glad Demi is back to their roots. If you like rock genre, this album is a 10 out of 10. I especially loved the songs with influences of hard rock, rock, punk and acoustic rock.
  8. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Genuinely amazing album that touches on the brave journey Demi has gone through. I'm very proud of them and this album.
  9. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The album is that good. I was not a fan, now I am. She brought out such raw emotions on this one. Expand
  10. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm so proud of Demi Lovato Devonne She brought us a real rock record WoOooooooow!!! Expand
  11. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    The best album in Demi's discography. Pop-rock really suits Demi's amazing vocals
  12. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Comienza en un tono que denota rabia al entonar y termina con una voz suave y dulce como solamente Demi Lovato lo ha sabido hacer.
    Me atrevo a decir que es uno de sus mejores álbumes hasta el día de hoy. 10/10
  13. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    quando tao precisando fazer mutirão pra abaixar a nota do álbum é pq ele ta bom espumem mais
  14. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    this album is about being in the best place of your life and sending a **** off to biased headlines
  15. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    A very mature album! I am proud of Demi and this is masterpiece. It is an existing work of art!
  16. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    Incredible piece of work, one of the best albums of the year and definitely a favorite ! Should be considered by the Academy for a Grammy
  17. Aug 21, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tooo good like, honestly shocked that’s she was able to release something that held this much power in a genre where she hasn’t dabbled in for so long. I’m really looking forward to future stuff there. Eat me and freak and dead friends, just wow Expand
  18. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Best Demi yet! This album doesn’t hold back! Every song is anthemic and unapologetic!
  19. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    as músicas estão perfeitas. estou amando a era de rock e demi continua provando seu talento inalcançável
  20. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Amazing sound and as a true lovatic this is all we wanted and MORE! It’s her best album yet!!!!!!!
  21. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Absolutely the best album of his career. Sincere, transparent, without fear of judgments. When she sings about her experiences, it moves those who are listening.
  22. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Love more than anything, love Demi , love the songs the vibe and more is beatiful
  23. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The best album ever!!! Thank you Demi Lovato for creating this masterpiece!! Expand
  24. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    The best female rock álbum of the year by know
    It's fun, powerful, sexy . I've been a fan of Demi since Camp Rock, but now I am 1000 times more!
  25. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    this is demi’s most cohesive body of work and she deserves everything good coming from this album. the haters can leave cause at the end of the day demi ALWAYS wins!!!!
  26. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Absolutely amazing album. Demi has always been able to master the rock sound and this album proves that once again.
  27. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    Simplesmente o melhor álbum dela até agora. Falo com propriedade, até quem não curte rock gostou!
  28. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    A demi se superou nesse álbum, as melodias estão incríveis, eu amei que ela voltou para o rock, EAT ME é a melhor do álbum
  29. Aug 20, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. best album of the year, Demi always delivering better tracks,I can't wait to have it live here in Brazil, I love you Demi Expand
  30. Aug 23, 2022
    10
    Best album of the year. Demi’s so versatile, I’m in love with they’re doing on this era
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Aug 23, 2022
    80
    Chaotic, energised and thrilling, this is Demi Lovato at her very best.
  2. Aug 23, 2022
    80
    If anything, Holy Fvck proves that maybe it was Lovato’s pop albums that were the fluff, and this is the substance they’ve been looking for.
  3. Aug 22, 2022
    60
    Holy Fvck has its flaws – Lovato’s powerful voice is unnecessarily finessed and Auto-Tuned, and 16 tracks is too long. But its gutsy ambition is a thing of substance in and of itself.