Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems (2022) Hi Res

Soul Glo are a hardcore band from Philadelphia who crank out an uncommonly hard and intense fusion of punk and metal influences loaded with purposeful rage about the personal and the political. That's the relatively simple explanation of a dauntingly complex band. The group's founding members are Black, and their worldview and political stance contain a lot of layers that your usual white band of hardcore ranters lack. They embrace the reasonable notion that nearly all American popular music is in some way rooted in Black influences, which means this raw, physically punishing music also finds room for elements of funk, hip-hop, and even jazz, with a horn section joining in on two tracks. Hardcore is a subgenre that prides itself on technical complexity without always finding room for challenging musical thinking, and within this context, Soul Glo's 2022 album Diaspora Problems is a truly thrilling experience. This is music that's almost literally exploding with ideas, so much so that lead singer Pierce Jordan can barely fit them all in as he screams his way through these tracks, and guitarist Ruben Polo, bassist Gianmarco "GG" Guerra, and drummer T.J. Stevenson have the strength and versatility to make music that's as smart and ferocious as the lyrics. ("Driponomics," which features a guest spot from Philly rapper Mother Mayrose, is built around a squiggly feedback line from Polo that demonstrates the distance between hardcore and industrial rap is practically zero under the right circumstances). The band's technique is solid and they're more than burly enough to bring the most impassioned bits of this music roaring to life, but it's the passion and emotional investment in the material that make the biggest difference. There is a ferocious intelligence and a keen eye at work in this music, and the fact that the bone-snapping impact never blunts it is remarkable, but Jordan's willingness to allow us inside his head and witness his insecurities and inner dialogue alongside his rage give this a depth few hardcore bands will ever reach. If you want your ears kicked, Soul Glo can do that like few others, but Diaspora Problems confirms that's hardly the beginning and end of their talents.