Bradley Palermo & the Shadow Queens Release New Single: “Ash+Smoke”
I reviewed “The Devil Finds a Way” by Bradley Palermo and the Shadow Queens back in early October, and I became an instant fan. This new single off their “Satanic” folk punk album which became available on vinyl on 10/13/23 (Order it on Bandcamp), is another killer folk tune with a punk rock soul infused throughout.
It starts with a fairly frenetic guitar riff and then settles into a mid-tempo folk rock verse and chorus filled with a story teller vibe featuring dark imagery and somber tones. The intro gets a bit of a refrain as a guitar solo. And it ends with a catchy run of the song title repeated in a way that builds to the end.
Lyrically the song paints a grim picture of a family plagued by racism, violence, and destructive beliefs. Palermo seems to distance themselves from this toxic heritage while confronting and challenging it head-on. The tone is confrontational and critical, and the imagery is potent in conveying a sense of darkness and turmoil within the family dynamic.
Check them out on Spotify or on my (folk) punk playlist
Check out their online stuff too: Website, IG, Twitter, FB, Soundcloud
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