The world is a firework of overstimulation – and Future Palace have dedicated an album to this feeling of overwhelm. On the new record “Distortion”, the Berlin post-hardcore trio deals with an almost oppressing mass of mental illnesses and problems. In doing so they create music that – appropriate to this topic – hits more hooks than ever before from one moment to the next, from the quietest depths to the loftiest heights. While the band had already leaned more towards musical extremes on their previous album, “Run”, “Distortion” is the ultimate culmination of all the tones that Future Palace have absorbed on their Europe-wide journey as one of the most exciting acts in alternative guitar music: the most powerful metalcore breakdowns meet trembling darkwave beats, anthemic emocore refrains à la Bad Omens are contrasted with sacred choirs, the coldness of industrial encounters the powerful emotionality of Sleep Token. An album like a manifesto.

Future Palace’s music has always explored internal struggles, and Distortion is the brutal climax of this approach. The album title, derived from the psychological term cognitive distortion, reflects a world where changing perceptions trap individuals in recurring pitfalls. Distortion addresses various mental illnesses and personal struggles, from ADHD to depression to narcissism. The band’s third album is a powerful force of emotions, cycles, and cries of desperation, overwhelming listeners with its intensity.

The band’s creativity shines as they tackle demanding topics with fresh perspectives. On Distortion, they build on their previous work by incorporating new elements, like orchestral interjections in “The Echoes of Disparity,” which combines brutal screams and chant-like passages to convey psychological struggle. “Panic Paralysis” features a massive vocal motif with an arabesque touch, while “They Take What They Want” dives into emotional depths, blending raw metalcore with gentle vocal passages and massive choirs.

It was my pleasure to have Maria on the Interview to speak on the upcoming album “Distortion” to be released on September 6, 2024 Via Arising Empire. Check out the complete coverage on the below YouTube Video.

DISTORTION TRACK LISTING:
“Uncontrolled“
“Malphas“
“Panic Paralysis”
“The Echoes of Disparity” (Feat. Charle Rolfe of As Everything Unfolds)
“Dreamstate“
“Decarabia”
“In Too Deep”
“Rays of Light”
“A Fool on a Devil’s Reins”
“They Take What They Want”
“Amethyst”