BRNDA

D.C.-based art punk supergroup BRNDA is back with their latest album since 2021, Total Pain, solidifying BRNDA’s mastery of their patented off-kilter, stream-of-consciousness sound solidified in their releases Do You Like Salt? (2021) and Thanks for Playing (2018). Total Pain is a twelve-course meal of witty writing, flute solos, and hypnotic talk-singing that leaves listeners excited to put it on again and understand the trip they’ve just taken. “Peach Pit” starts the album with Leah Gage’s vocals speaking directly to the listener, outlining the universal feeling of being forced to exist in an apathetic environment. “Zebra” is a noise and dance rock fusion, a cacophony of shout-singing and tension-building percussion. It leads to welcome whiplash in the following song, “Jenny”, a slower, moodier tune which allows you to catch your breath before being slung into “Blenderman,” a tongue-in-cheek view on losing pieces of oneself while chasing after the fake promise of American Meritocracy. Professional Flutist Mike Gillispie adds complexity to Total Pain's soundscape by lending his woodwind excellence on tracks “Everyone Chicago” and “Frustrations," creating an even more undefinable experience that places the band in a league of its own. Total Pain blends 60s Art Nouveau with Punk, leaving 2021's salt behind and embracing voyeurism of the zoo to create a brand new side to the ever-evolving BRNDA, a band for active listening and analysis, not passive background ambiance.