The Drums drive home their predilection for eerie contrast, setting unapologetically somber lyrics against a background of cheerful synth-pop in the sickly-sweet darkness of Encyclopedia, their third and newest release. Though the dark lyrics inevitably drag the listener into hopelessness, the synth-heavy trance remains hypnotic. We involuntarily relax as The Drums chillingly muse, “I never thought I’d want to die, but I was looking for a gun when you found me.”
Childhood Bible camp friends Jonny Pierce and Jacob Graham have not only had two band members leave since their last album release, but also their fear of God, judging by the track “Face of God.” On first listen, Encyclopedia comes across as brash, with professions of love such as “they might hate you, but I love you, and they can go kill themselves,” which beg for attention, yet are lacking in allure. These flashy lines, however, demonstrate The Drums’s rebellious spirit, clear evidence of the grungy influence imprinted by Joy Division and The Smiths on The Drums’s work.
Bold declarations of laughter in the face of death give way to the essence of the album—an innocent hopelessness. Encyclopedia radiates an odd sense of calm through its more irreverent tracks. Sympathy seeps into Pierce’s gloomily murmured lyrics and weaves through songs like,“I Can’t Pretend” and “There is Nothing Left.”
In sharp contrast to the distorted and unwelcoming opening track, “Magic Mountain,” the final track, “Wild Geese,” leaves the listener in a state of introspection. It builds emotion, unlike many of the album’s flat, repetitive songs, conveying an uplifting tone that confirm the scattered elements of resilience amidst an album characterized by hopelessness.
“When the sky turns black, we’ll wait right here for the first lights of morning,” croons Pierce on “Wild Geese.” While Encyclopedia’s bleakness persists, moments of solace subdue the album’s brooding gloom, presenting a constructive alternative to the horror.
Voice’s Choices: “I Can’t Pretend,” “Wild Geese”
