Screaming Females – Desire Pathway
Release Date: 17th February 2023
Label: Don Giovanni Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Indie Rock, Alt-Rock, Punk, Stoner Rock.
FFO: Black Sabbath, The Donnas, Pixies, Turnstile, Title Fight.
Review By: Kara Ketchum
The 17-year DIY veterans Screaming Females are back with their newest installment, Desire Pathway, and it does not disappoint. I’m going to be 100% honest: I’m new to the Screaming Females camp, but I think I’m about to become their biggest evangelist. It touches on all the good stuff I grew up with as the millennial child of young Gen X stoners – passionate vocals, delicious guitar, and a hazy tone that would put my Summer of Love hippie grandparents right back at home.
“I have flown us to the moon.” is how “Brass Bell” opens before rolling into a Black-Sabbath-Self-Titled-esque jaunt through time. Marissa Paternoster’s vocal stylings have a buttery richness about them, but this is switched up for a choppier groove in “Desert Train.” The accompanying guitars make for a song that is anything but basic.
Track three, “Let You Go,” has a seriousness about it, probably due to the deep tones of the string instruments and the haunting drawl of the lyrics. Next up, “Beyond The Void” – a march towards melancholy – is comparatively simple next to the previous tracks, almost as if it’s a moment to breathe. It’s an easy pass-off to the beachy “Mourning Dove.” I, unfortunately, don’t have an ear to parse lyrics without reading them, but if this song has dark lyrics, I would never guess it due to the fun melody and flow.
Beginning the back half of the album, “It’s All Said And Done” brings a fun attitude to the album. The song is direct and punchy, and gives off a light “California Über Alles” vibe, a la Dead Kennedys. A poppy riff opens “Ornament” to give way to a head-bopping verse with a strong build-up to a mid-2000s rom-com chorus in the best way imaginable. The song feels a little anachronistic comparatively, but that’s easily overlooked for how great it is otherwise (and also not even a real critique, but more of an observation.)
A light croon greets the listener in “So Low.” It’s a soft performance that feels like laying your head down on a soft pillow. It picks up at a smooth and appropriate pace for “Let Me Into Your Heart” without being too shocking between the two sound levels. The song is a cloud-skimming, space-y ballad with a nice juxtaposition next to the funky final track, “Titan.” With a rich bass tone and a volleying between ups and downs, it is the perfect way to close out this album.
If I could rate this album higher than five out of five, I would. As such, I’m excited to announce I have found my likely AOTY in February. Absolutely no notes. I can’t wait to make everyone I know listen to Desire Pathway.
(5 / 5)
