ALBUM REVIEW: Desire Pathway – Screaming Females
SCREAMING FEMALES are back with a bang with Desire Pathway, the band’s first album in five years and it sees their upbeat alternative rock sensibilities elevate over some soaring grooves throughout the album’s 10 tracks. On this record, the New Brunswick, NJ trio build on the sound that they have been treating us with ever since their debut release Baby Teeth, but, just as their last album All At Once seemed to elevate that sound even further, Desire Pathway continues to branch out and the band sound all the better for it.
The rhythm section of SCREAMING FAMLES that consists of drummer Jarrett Dougherty and bassist Mike Abbate are on point all the way through with their grooves particularly standing out on tracks like Beyond The Void, Brass Bell and So Low. This allows the vocals and riff-filled guitar playing of Marissa Paternoster to truly let loose with their beautiful nature, such is the power of her voice – a power that she unleashes with style. Paternoster‘s singing on these songs is the epitome of the uplifting nature that vocals can take on, although there is a darker undercurrent swirling around in the mix as well, which makes even more sense when you take into account that certain lyrics document a breakup.
Songs like Mourning Dove and It’s All Said And Done are good examples of that but they still have an uplifting tilt about them and that is what makes the music of SCREAMING FEAMLES special – the bringing of joy through pain. What also makes them special is that they have not forgotten their roots and the power trio explosion of their music is still there in droves, elevated by all the other elements as well this time around with tracks like the closing duo of Let Me Into Your Heart and Titan in particular acting as great examples of the eclectic nature of the band’s music and how it has both stayed true to its core but branched out as well.
Ultimately, Desire Pathway is an album that salutes the history of the music of SCREAMING FEMALES while also looking at the future, such is the hopeful nature of the tracks on here. And that future definitely seems bright. It’s a personal record for sure but there are elements that are completely relatable and that makes it all the more special. With a string of live dates upcoming this summer, including a run of UK and European shows, make sure you don’t miss these as they will show the power of these songs perfectly in a live environment, especially at the start of sunset. But until then, immerse yourself in Desire Pathway and the sublime uplifting nature of the music of SCREAMING FEMALES.
Rating: 7/10
Desire Pathway is set for release on February 17th via Don Giovanni Records.
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