Pardoner are a rock band, they play rock music. On Paranoid in Hell, out now on Convulse Records, it takes just four short songs to prove this point. Transversing the plains of the rock landscape, these tunes ebb and flow, or more like jerk and jive, through tempos, volumes, and vibes to show they can do what other bands do, only better.
Pardoner have hit their stride. The SF quartet is known for guitar-driven tunes that straddle the line between pop-rock anthems and sludgy punk screed. Peace Loving People, their fourth LP, fully captures their singular sound built around the infectious interplay of the guitars and vocals of the main songwriters Max Freedland and Trey Flanigan.
On their rambunctious and irreverent third LP Came Down Different, San Francisco punks Pardoner bring their noisy sound into focus. Hidden under their layers of feedback and distorted guitars are some damn fine pop songs. This time around, the trio allow the melodies to peak through their signature wall of sound a bit more.
