Rather than worshiping Minor Threat, DC Punks Palladists pursue darker sounds on their new album Tenebrous Ways (Fiadh Productions). This is fitting when you are named after a satanic cult hidden within early Freemasonry. When it comes to the vocals on this album, they are still very much rooted in punk. It is the guitar tones that set them apart from the rest of the punk pack. They use more effects to add a creepy touch to the otherwise in-your-face rapid-fire attack. In terms of their songwriting approach, they are not busting out the kind of hooky anthems the Misfits are known for, nor are they dwelling in the kind of drug-induced morbid self-reflection Christian Death once lamented upon.

They have an angrier sound than what a death rock band would typically do and lash with tauntly picked riffs, decorated by the occasional gang vocal cheering them on as they maintain their breakneck momentum. They try harder than most punk bands by setting the stage with samples to help build the mood of the songs. This shows a commitment to storytelling that is appreciated. There is a more dramatic singing employed on “Royalty” that helps dynamically break things up, and the guitar uses a little more nuance to break from the feral charge that powered the first two songs.

The bass cuts through on this song, which helps solidify the song’s identity rather than just rushes past you in the adrenaline buzz of punk’s manic anger. This is where they show their at least post-punk influence, as bass is the backbone of goth, more typically used to hold down the riff, thus allowing the guitar to paint a more atmospheric picture. While they do not go as far, to paint any kind of picture aside from one of their aggressive middle finger in your face, this is sometimes delivered with a more melodic sound.

“Hands That Thieve” takes the gloom a step further, before exploding back into the rowdier mood that colored the first two songs. For the verse, the drummer is keeping things punk, while the guitar tries to give the vocals more room. They bring back gang vocals to cement their punk cred. The last song blasts off into a more manic punk frenzy and races to the finish line. These guys are way more interesting than your average underground punk band by making the effort to flirt with darkness. If you are a fan of punk bands, who are not afraid of their shadow side and do more than just the “1, 2, 3, …go ! “ style of punk rock we most associate with the genre than this album is certainly worthy of a listen

Buy the album here:
https://fiadh.bandcamp.com/album/tenebrous-ways

8 / 10
WIL CIFER
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