PABST explores rock music through a nihilistic perspective

hment anthems have characterized their sound ever since.

Spread throughout the new album are also noteworthy collaborations. From DZ Deathrays’ frontman Shane Parson leading vocals on the lead single, ‘I Felt All There is to Feel’, to Leipzig indie-rock musician, Katja Seiffert (also known as Blush Always) supporting on the bittersweet and nostalgia-ridden ‘Twenty Three’, the record feels like a true combined effort – a quality not seen in the band’s earlier works.

Further delving into the leftist, anti-capitalist theme that defines the album’s essence, ‘Orca Whale’ introduces reverb-soaked chords and dense drum fills that offer a glimpse into the band’s nihilistic reflections, standing out as one of the more emblematic (and easy to digest) tracks on the album. Transitioning from nihilism to a sort of fatalism is ‘Destroy Everything’ – a succinct, punchy anthem that recurrently emphasizes, “There’s nothing left to do”. Gloomy, yes, but inherently liberating – and only amplified by its captivating lyricism.

“What once seemed like a dystopian concept is now just the reality of today,” comments vocalist and guitarist Erik Heise. “There have been several moments recently where I thought ‘whatever dark scenarios people have envisioned in the past about how bad things can get, a lot of it is happening now.’”

Additional standout tracks include ‘Heavy Metal Junk Island’ with its deeply-rooted Americana vibes, the high-energy ‘Song on the Radio’, and the record’s lead single ‘Big Big Heart’. Bold, energetic, and fueled by the album’s catchiest riff, it stands out as the track most likely to boost the band’s visibility within the diverse musical landscapes they navigate.

Wrapping up with a subdued title-track outro, PABST’s latest release ends on a contrasting somber note – perhaps a fitting moment of contemplative clarity after a continuous stream of tracks that keep directing our focus back to the turbulent world outside.

Electric, quirky in parts, and deeply influenced by the chaos that envelops us all, ‘This Is Normal Now’ presents a sharp, contemporary update of a genre that often leans towards the expected. As we all continue to ponder solutions to remedy the mess we find ourselves in, the record offers a welcome break, yet it’s their next creation that will need to deliver the bolder, more audacious punch this one only alludes to.