Seven years between albums can be practically a lifetime for a young band just finding their sound, and issues within and outside the group kept
Des Demonas
away from the studio for a long time after their bold self-titled debut came out in 2017, with just a seven-song EP in 2021 to show for their downtime. Thankfully, the band's second full-length, 2024's
Apocalyptic Boom! Boom!
, leaves no doubt that they have plenty of life and spirit in them despite the long wait. Lead singer and lyricist
Jacky Cougar Abok
remains front and center on this material, and the full-bodied defiance of his delivery gives his lyrics the fierce punch they deserve -- "Angola," "Fascist Discotheque," "Conduit (Televised Crimewave)," and the title track are smart, impassioned broadsides whose wit doesn't blunt their edge in any way. The impact of the musicians is less severe on
than it was on the debut, perhaps due to the fact this was recorded with a four-piece lineup rather than the quintet on the first LP. That said, the more streamlined arrangements sound funkier this time around; the crisp tone of
Mark Cisneros
' guitar is a deliciously tart contrast to the artful substance of
Paul Vivari
's organ, and the propulsive snap of
Matt Gatwood
's drumming serves the songs extremely well. (
Vivari
does double duty on bass on
, and he's a fine foil for
Gatwood
, earning him MVP status for this album.)
are leaner and meaner on
than their debut, and their blend of hard but dance-friendly grooves, rock & roll provocation, and righteous doggedness confirms this band has a bright future if they want one. And if they don't, they've left behind something truly memorable. ~ Mark Deming