Future Palace caught many people’s ear with their fantastic sophomore effort, Run, back in 2022. It sounded like modern metal, but it didn’t shy away from pushing boundaries with dabblings into more electronic areas, hip hop, rock, and pop. In short, it found a way to be chaotic and energetic, yet comfortably melodic at the same time. Distortion has some big shoes to fill in that regard, but in hearing the results it’s quite clear that Future Palace aren’t willing to play by the rules and provide an obvious follow-up. The group again prove they can transcend more boundaries for the betterment of their sound, resulting in an even more compelling and adventurous sound.
Future Palace quickly show they are pulling no punches with opener “Uncontrolled.” The song is visceral, heavier, and more abrasive than anything on their previous releases. Maria Lessing’s screams have vitriol behind them as the guitars crunch behind her. Yet they can still stop on a dime for a melodic chorus that will embed itself into your brain for weeks. “Malphas” starts to test the waters more with a heavier dose of dark synth-y electronics and feedback in addition to their onslaught of heavy riffing and grooves. Toss in a punishing electronic breakdown to counter the soaring chorus and the band continues to shake things up.
The band switches over to a darkly melodic template as they continue to move forward. “Panic Paralysis” oozes lyrical desperation that echoes itself in the weaving electronic dreamstates and slower grooves layered on top. “Decarabia” sounds like the band dove fully into the darker electronic elements and turned it into an underground dance party, in the best possible way, waiting until you are lulled into submission before they unload a savage mid-song breakdown. “Rays of Light” incorporates an embrace of more trip hop and dark electronic/industrial elements into a hook-based monster that slowly cranks up the intensity before exploding into one of the strongest choruses on the album.
It’s important to note some of the risks the band took not just with their sound, but also lyrically. “They Take What they Want” is an oozing, slithering song with moody electronics taking a sinister tone, but it also digs directly into the darker side of humanity with some raw honesty that’s a welcome voice that dips into the more depressive side of human nature. Probably the biggest statement the band makes on Distortion is that of “The Echoes of Disparity,” which offers a scathing all-out assault that digs into the oppression of women. It also features a collaboration with As Everything Unfolds’ Charlie Rolfe, as the two trade off biting lyrical lines with a hip hop energy that explodes with venom and energy.
Not afraid to push their boundaries both musically and lyrically, there’s a genuine hunger to Future Palace with Distortion. They come across as even heavier and caustic, but also flirtatious with more taboo injections of outside musical influences that further propel their sound into something unique within the modern metal scene. The result is an album that features tracks that are full of life and individuality, with lyrics that get you thinking (or even identifying with), and an overall package that can hit like a freight train and seconds later move you with it’s insidiously catchy melodies. It’s not just a big step up for Future Palace, but one of the strongest releases you’ll find in 2024’s scene.