TRULY GIVING A FEVER DREAM
Review by: MARSWORTH
The Canadian-American rock band, Palaye Royale, has released their 4th full-length studio album entitled Fever Dream set to be released on October 28, 2022 via Sumerian Records. Although their music has changed throughout their 10 years of service to the music industry, this visionary 13-track record with 2 orchestral bookends has got to be the most diverse piece of art in their catalog to date.
Palaye Royale is:
Remington Leith: Lead vocals
Sebastian Danzig: Rhythm guitar and keys
Emerson Barret: Percussion and keys
Andrew Martin: Lead guitar
Jennie Vee: Bass
The story for the album is set up and open to page one as soon as you hit play on “Eternal Life (Intro)”. Ominous vocals with strong backing guitar riffs and ground shattering drum beats fill the room immediately. The sour taste of feeling like a pawn in some sort of putrid game with no clear motive leaves you gasping for the next track only to be drenched in the heartbreak Leith endured. Barret then brings major power whilst smacking each drum head to the title track “Fever Dream” as if listeners on the other side of the planet can hear each and every one loud and clear. Very much a tune in which you crank it, lay on the floor of a dark room, and absorb the music fully.
The sense of the floating takes over just as the brothers band together and build up to the climax and make you feel as if you’re powerless but nothing can harm you. A dominating track such as “Lifeless Stars” can make you feel as if you could break away from the floating experience left from “Oblivion” and kick in the nearest door. Intensity will shoot through your veins as the tune progresses from start to finish. Gently, the brothers take us back into the floating state with our closing track and close the storybook allowing us to feel as if we’ve been through only but a dream this whole time.
MARSWORTH SAYS: 8/10
TRACK LIST:
Eternal Life (Intro) 1:04
Eternal Life 3:44
No Love In LA 3:23
Punching Bag 3:55
Broken 3:11
Fever Dream 5:06
Line It Up 4:01
Toxic In You 2:20
Wasted Sorrow 3:32
Paranoid 4:18
Oblivion 5:17
Lifeless Stars 3:17
The King Of The Damned 3:57
Off With The Head 3:16
Off With The Head (Outro) 3:14
LINK TO TITLE TRACK:
PALAYE ROYALE – Fever Dream (Official Music Video)
PERSON NOTES ON EACH PIECE:
Eternal Life (Intro) Eternal Life
Lovely acoustic.setting up the storyline for the 15-track album. Ties directly into the second track under the same name. Ominous vocals with strong backing guitar riffs and ground shattering drum beats. Breakdown showcasing the abilities of the band of brothers. Ending in which returns to the ominous nature shown in the beginning of the track.
No Love In LA
This single throws a strong beat which drives the track into “Punching Bag”. Remington claiming that “There’s no such thing as love in LA” billows through speakers just as Sebastian, Emerson, as well as Andrew follow his every move which abruptly turns sour when the 3 minutes and 23 seconds are up.
Punching Bag
Nothing but hatred and sadness spilling through the speakers. The storyline continues with Remington howling that his, “soul is dying” and he, “gave you my all”. This track shows his true feelings about feeling used and nothing but a doll in the game.
Broken
Broken follows the heavy nature in which “Punching Bag” had been brought to the table. A soft moment gives the listener a chance to catch their breath and plunge back into the deep heartache the trio had created.
Fever Dream
Reminiscent of the previous albums, Boom Boom Room Side A and Side B. Emerson brings major power whilst smacking each drum as if listeners on the other side of the planet can hear them loud and clear. Very uplifting. Very much a tune in which you crank it, lay on the floor of a dark room, and absorb the music fully. Could muster up a tear. Definitely a reason that this is a title track. Sebastians guitar moment could move mountains. The power that this track carries is absolutely incredible.
Line It Up
Soft introduction. Breath of air after the blast of angst and strength from “Fever Dream”. Woman’s voice harmonizing with Remington. The forceful nature of
previous tracks remains but in such a lighthearted tone, that only a thought would bring it to attention.
Toxic In You
The feeling of being useless returns, but with a loving overtone. Leith seems to be wrapped up in the deadly nature of the situation at hand by saying he ”loves the toxic in you”.
Wasted Sorrow
Muted vocals leading into Emerson’s ass kicking drum beats that Remington floats above whilst giving the advice to, “Please don’t waste your life away like me.” Billowing calls of help echo from the speakers as Sebastian melts faces with his melodic guitar riffs. Such an uplifting sound in which the lyrics are so in tune with darkness.
Paranoid
Claiming to be his, “…mothers least favorite child” Remington howls in the unknown about the negativity swimming about in his busy mind. The unforgettable story unravels as the insecurities overflow and paint a picture for the listener to clearly see.
Oblivion
As the story furthers and reaches its decline, Remington reminisces on the title track “Fever Dream” only asking for someone to, “find me and bring me back from Oblivion”. The slow nature of this track brings an eerie tranquility to the strength of “Wasted Sorrow” and “Paranoid”. The sense of the floating takes over just as the brothers band together and build up to the climax and make you feel as if you’re powerless but nothing can harm you.
Lifeless Stars
Once again, reminiscent of previous albums and simply brings a smile to an old fan’s face. This track makes you feel as if you could break away from the floating experience left from “Oblivion” and kick in the nearest door. Intensity will shoot through your veins as “Lifeless Stars” progresses from start to finish. Definitely a dominating track.
The King Of The Damned
Sebastian, Andrew, and Emerson amalgamate to create a toe tapping, heart thumping, and fist pumping unforgettable beat in which wraps up this masterpiece of a full length album. I can already hear the crowd screaming along
to this absolute soon-to-be staple in the band’s repertoire. This track lets the band behind Remington show off their talents.
Off With The Head
Off With The Head (Outro)
In the fullness of time, we come to the close of the storyline that the Kropp brothers had created where we can see the light at the end of the tunnel of heartbreak, misery, as well as a somewhat poisonous view on the plot of our journey. Ending the expedition from “Eternal Life” to “Toxic In You”, we can clearly see that “Off With The Head ” checks out with an authoritative essence by chanting the track’s title. The feeling as if you could kick in a door that “Lifeless Stars” brought to the table returns with full force; however, the outro just before the foot reaches the doorway. Gently, the brothers take us back into the floating state and close the storybook allowing us to feel as if we’ve been through only but a dream this whole time.