5. Shiny Toy Guns, III
“A well-written album and a strong comeback for Carah-Faye Charnow.”

4. Rush, Clockwork Angels
“I’m really stoked to see a classic and legendary band like Rush release something that sounds so modern. I think a lot of ‘comeback releases’ sound entirely dated as if the band was too stubborn to evolve, but this is not the case with Rush.”

3. Lana Del Ray, Paradise EP
“I think Lana Del Rey is breathing new life into pop music. This follow-up EP to her debut, Born To Die, is melodically and lyrically rich and very sexy.”

2. Muse, The 2nd Law
“This album sounds like Queen from space. Muse is always three steps ahead sonically.”

1. Jack White, Blunderbuss
“This album was my favorite of the year. He makes an incredible solo artist and his songwriting only gets better as time goes on. I also love how he used two bands on this release, one with all women and one with all men.”

Picture Me Broken–led by frontwoman, and perennial Hottest Chick in Hard Rock, Brooklyn–will release their new EP, Mannequins, on December 18. In anticipation, the band is premiering the lead single, “Torture,” right here right now. Check it out below, and let us know what you think in the comments.

The 2013 edition of Revolver‘s annual Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendar — featuring Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless on its cover and exclusive pinups of 12 of the loveliest ladies in music — is available online. The calendar also packs plenty of hard-rock and heavy-metal trivia, including landmark album release dates, historic concerts, musician birthdays, and much more! Get yours now.

When we interviewed Picture Me Broken frontwoman Brooklyn for the new Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue (Brooklyn’s also featured in the forthcoming 2013 Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendar, by the way), we talked about a host of topics, from the band’s upcoming album, her life as a high school student and more.

Unfortunately, due to space constraints, we couldn’t include most of the interview. But that’s what the Internet is for! Read what she has to say below!

REVOLVER: How’s the new album coming along?

The new album, Corrupt Me, has been complete for several months. I listen to it at the gym constantly and become more proud and eager to release it each time. Rock and roll needs this album right now.

How do you feel it’s different than your past music?

This album is not at all gimmicky or trendy; in fact, it’s risky how far we’ve deviated from our “scene.” I wanted to graduate from “the band with the chick screamer” compartmentalization and grow as an artist (That’s not to say you won’t catch me screaming here and there). I focused heavily on creating a diverse spectrum of songs, honing into every sonic crevice that turns me on artistically. In most cases, if one were to select two arbitrary songs and play them back to back, they may sound like two completely different bands and genres. Critics will probably eat us alive for that, but I think a band needs to step up and have the audacity to create a blatantly divergent album rather than another release that sounds like one 45-minute-long song. I’m not afraid to be that band.

What’s your favorite song so far?

It depends on my current mood. My general cynical, nihilistic self is always keen to indulge in the piano ballads of the record, namely “Moment of Weakness.”

Since this is also our “back to school” issue, some school-related questions: How would you describe your school experience?

I suppose this is the part where the rock musician whines about their traumatic school experience. I hate to say it, but my academic career consisted of student body presidency, a 4.3 GPA in predominantly AP classes, varsity athletics in swimming and water polo from the day I stepped onto campus, and an abundance of empty lunch tables. I had a few weak moments where my rejection of the institution stifled me from being as on-point as I could have been, but for the most part I wanted to succeed.

I think people who consistently succeed do so in everything they do. I don’t agree with musicians who glamorize academic mediocrity. If you are rejected by your peers, you sure as hell had better score higher than them, beat them at sports, beat them in school elections, beat them out of theatrical roles, etc. And leave with your middle finger in the air; that is far more rock and roll than flunking out.

What kind of student were you? A nerd or a troublemaker or somewhere in between?

I wasn’t so easily pigeonholed. I did everything from nerding out and winning aquatic races to shit-disturbing and brooding by myself on the quad.

What’s the worst trouble you got into while in school?

I never really got caught. In fact, I came up with a system enabling me to skip class at my whim, completely under the radar. It gave me extra time to study and break into the room with the piano.

Did you ever skip school due to hard rock or metal?

I opted to do my entire senior year online in order to focus on my true passion, rock.

Did you ever have any run-ins with bullies?

Certainly. But I must say, I had it coming.

Did music help you get through school? If so, how?

Definitely not, I’d likely be readying to commence freshman year at an Ivy League right now if not for my fervent affinity for music. That was always going to be the alternative route, but thankfully I don’t do Plan B.

REVOLVER How’s the new album coming along?
BROOKLYN I’m absolutely ecstatic about the new album. We have two phenomenal new guitar players and fresh vision for the band entirely. I’ve been taking a very active role as far as the songwriting goes, using my eight years of classical piano training to write a lot of the instrumental work, arrangements, and songs as a whole, and that’s been very rewarding for me as a passionate musician. Collaborating with my boys has also produced something that stands as an album capitalized on musicianship and being in a real band that formed organically, setting us apart from the plague of manufactured gimmicks out there today.

What are you guys trying to do differently this time around?
I say with confidence that we are an entirely different band. We’re abandoning all genre criteria, musical trends, and silly subgenres like “screamo”–that’s not to say I wont continue screaming–and simply creating music regardless of whether or not it fits into any of the boxes we’ve been placed in or are expected to fit. We’re no longer a group of 15 or 16 year olds experimenting as we were on our previous releases. We’re seasoned musicians with a vision and much more mature songwriting capabilities.

Can you share some song titles?
My current favorite track is titled “Corrupt Me.”

What have you been listening to recently?
In seeking lyrical inspiration, I’ve been immersing myself in a lot of Eminem and Bad Meets Evil simply because they so clearly convey the most high-strung emotions and dramatic life situations. I’m trying to capture this more in my own lyrics. I’ve also been gravitating back to a lot of my HIM albums lately because I love electronic textures mixed with dark rock music.

Congrats on turning 18. How did you celebrate your birthday?
Thank you. I spent my 18th birthday on the set of the first Black Veil Brides music video shoot of their new album, with Andy

How does it feel to be officially an adult?
I’ve felt like an adult and always had a sense of maturity since I was in grade school, perhaps because I started working toward building my music career so early in life, but turning 18 certainly makes it more official. I even got myself a lip piercing in honor of being legal that I took out three months later.

Who are you musical heroes and why?
Davey Havok has always been the figure that I’ve looked to both as a musician and as a person. I remember stumbling upon a couple of AFI albums when I was about 10 years old and they sparked my interest in darker, more aggressive music, which is what I continue to write to this day. I also practiced a vegan/vegetarian and straightedge lifestyle throughout high school to match his. He has had a very positive effect on my life in terms of being a role model and I think that’s rare to find in rock musicians. Other heroes include [futureusgalleryMuse's] Matthew Bellamy, Skylar Grey, [futureusgalleryHeart's] Ann Wilson, and Eminem.

What’s the sexiest hard-rock or metal song and why?
“Welcome to the Jungle”–Guns N’ Roses. It’s the essence of sexy and rock and roll.

The issue also features stories on:
• Disturbed
• The Devil Wears Prada
• Staind
• Anthrax
• Black Veil Brides
• Mastodon
• Alice Cooper
• Machine Head
• Sebastian Bach
• Falling in Reverse
• and much, much more!!!

Also available online for pre-order is the 2012 edition of Revolver‘s Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock calendar, featuring Lzzy Hale on its cover and exclusive pinups of 12 of the loveliest ladies in music, including an alternate shot of Hale. Preview the calendar right here. It also packs plenty of hard-rock and metal trivia, including landmark album release dates, historic concerts, musician birthdays, and much more! Get yours now.

Photos by Jay Blakesberg