SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FUTURE PALACE – DISTORTION

FUTURE PALACE
DISTORTION
ARISING EMPIRE

The world and its issues and complicated emotions can par the course for a nightmarish blend of anxiety and overstimulation. It feels like when we often tackle one problem, several others rise in its stead. Bands like Future Palace since their debut in 2020 have dedicated their careers to the mental instability of life and the journey of discovering oneself through such knotty and perplexing situations. Yet, for all the battles one continues to confront, there is a certain catharsis in letting it all go and moving on to the next chapter of life. This is not to say that these battles end because the person has freed themselves from such suffering; rather, it suggests that these struggles pave the way for something better. In Future Palace’s latest release, Distortion places us in the thick of overstimulation and the toll it takes on the human psyche.

From the first track experiences, “Uncontrolled” and “Malphas,” Future Palace has shown an amazing improvement from their last album, Run. Continuing to uphold their unique brand of aggressive and melodic fervor that has made them successful up to this point, such growth doesn’t just come from the dissonant energy they bring to the scene, but their means and flexibility to go for the gusto in dynamic ways that few venture into. Every track after this only further proves this point, as it’s very cool to see each track transform, shape, and mature different concepts and connections to their sound that at the beginning of their journey would have seemed a bit far-fetched and a bit disjointed.

Additional moments like “Dreamstate” and “The Echoes of Disparity,” which feature Charlie Rolfe, demonstrate that the band has found their calling and has produced hits that have demonstrated their musically diverse abilities. Such efforts set the tone for the more slab-dragging heaviness that permeates the album, with a cutting-edge heaviness that melds seamlessly with Lessing’s gifted vocal range.

When it comes to its invasion of cathodic decadence, songs like “Decarabia” and “In Too Deep” are undeniably memorable hits, and “Rays of Light,” the album’s highlight, further demonstrates their ability to craft masterfully written, tour-ready bangers that will stick in listeners’ ears long after the record is finished.

With its remarkable warping and building moment that lasts for an impressive three minutes and 12 seconds, “A Fool in the Devil’s Ring” showcases the band’s abilities better than anything other experience on the record, showcasing their genuine approach to the genre for which they have been known for the past four years.

The album culminates with the powerful track “Amethyst.” Serving as a compelling conclusion to an already exceptional album, Future Palace showcases their impressively diverse and impactful soundscape with its grand finale.

One thing cannot define Distortion; it is an eclectically rich experience. Because of this, the album features some of their best and most developed musical character extensions to date. Such a complex sound maintains a strong sense of consistency throughout without sacrificing the bonds that bind the experience. While the band is still very fresh coming into the fray with their third album, Future Palace successfully latches on to unconventionality and runs with it on this album, with no intent on such success dwindling any time soon, only growing stronger with time.

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