Release Date: 16th February 2024
California has been a hotbed of musical talent over the past 50 years. Many of the bands that are global phenomenons have originated there…so no pressure on anyone looking to make their move now, eh? Enter Joker’s Hand, a duo that are now seven years into their journey across the Los Angeles scene and beyond.
Almost 12 months to the day since their previous EP, Seeing Red, saw the light of day, Pride Before The Panic brings five tracks (plus a lovely little intro that feels right out of a post-apocalyptic movie) to life. ‘Highly Functioning Mind’ grows out of said haunting intro, kicking in with feisty guitars and vocals that grow throughout the track. Starting off slightly reserved, they move through expansive choruses until breaking point as the track closes out. This variation gives another depth to a track that already brought a lot of fun to the table.
Stand out track from the EP ‘Break The Simulation’ steps in next. Oozing nu-metal goodness, the song brings softer cleans together with harsher rapped elements that merge together seamlessly with a track that brings the funk and smashes it together with some punky tones. The energy on the song will be huge in a live setting. From here the scene is set for the remaining tracks.
A continuation of that fast, catchy beat is well and truly on the cards. Joker’s Hand combine elements of Zebrahead, Turnstile and some of the nu-metal bands at the softer end of the scale, bringing elements of each to make a sound that isn’t quite like any of them but feels nicely familiar. Closing track ‘IDFWU’ being a great example of this. Shoutier elements akin to Zebrahead combine with a track that could sit happily at any point in the last twenty years of music.
Pride Before The Panic does more than enough across just shy of eighteen minutes to have listeners wanting more. Luckily, with a previously released album and the aforementioned EP there’s plenty to get stuck into. You’ll want to, too. Probably with a beer in hand a bit of room to bop around in.