The lead song and first single on Desire Pathway” is “Brass Bell,” a fine song that’s indicative of Screaming Females’ general sound. That said, it’s really the second song, “Desert Train,” which gets this album rolling for me. It’s a fierce guitar song that’s hard and driving. Just like its name, it’s steeped in classic rock but with modern twists. Namely, it’s concise (just three minutes) and it pulls in a lot of other elements too. I hear some ‘90s alt-rock, modern post-metal tones and even a bit of video game rock. But, at heart, it’s the power of the guitar and a tangible energy that sets the tone, not just for “Desert Train,” but through the full album afterward.
“Mourning Dove” is a poppier jam with some bounce in its step and a punchy chorus, with big riffs underscoring the rhythm. For all my talk of guitar rock, this is a really balanced trio and the rhythm section doesn’t just hold their own. They also take over sometimes. “Let You Go” is a case in point, with thunderous bass mixed front and center.
It's not all driving rock, though. On vocals, Marissa Paternoster can convey a lot of emotion without changing the energy or vibe. “Beyond the Void” is just a beautiful song, a little more ballad-like in pace, but with a plodding psych rock element. Psych rock, in fact, comes to mind repeatedly while listening. Take that classic rock reference at the start, then merge it with ’60s-’70s psych from The Doors to Jefferson Airplane and mix in a splash of punk brevity and that’s the closest I’m going to come to describing Screaming Females’ sound. “Ornament” is kind of the culmination of all of this. It has soaring ‘90s alt-rock in the refrain, psych rock vocals, powerful bass with expressive cymbal crashes, and a firm balance between emotional melody and singalong, energetic rock. It’s really a feat that they can pack this much into a single song without ever topping the four-minute mark. The music really drives the tone and emotional pull of the record. The lyrics are important, but for me this album is all about how it feels: which is emotional yet strong, frustrated yet empowered. Psychedelic rock is often about feeling lost. This record takes that foundation, but it’s more about finding your way (see: album title).
I highly endorse Screaming Females’ live show. But their recorded output matches that power too. True passion comes through, whether live in person, over headphones, or blaring through plastic Bluetooth. Play it loud.
