On their 11th studio set, post-hardcore stalwarts
Dance Gavin Dance
look to the future after a period of turmoil. Just before the release of 2022's
Jackpot Juicer
, bassist
Tim Feerick
died of a fentanyl overdose, and within two years, they had also parted ways with co-vocalist
Tilian Pearson
.
Pantheon
is their first album without
Feerick
or
Pearson
and pulls the double duty of honoring their late bandmate and moving on from a sticky situation with their former singer. Rhythm guitarist
Andrew Wells
steps into the clean vocalist role alongside screamer
Jon Mess
for an album that leans into themes of rebirth and grief, taking a couple chances in the process. For the most part, their mix of math rock intricacy and melodic post-hardcore energy remains in effect on cuts like "Midnight at McGuffy's" and "Descend into Chaos," though they break form on the surprising "Space Cow Initiation Ritual," a funky track featuring
Funkadelic
legend
George Clinton
. ~ Timothy Monger