Panda Clan – Leave Your Shit Out Of My Brain

If we pay attention to the history, trajectory, and evolution of music, the contemporary scene should be comprised of artist and bands who push their creativity to the uncharted territories, delivering genre-bending and genre-defying works that often go beyond reasoning. Unfortunately, not so many music outlets are willing or wanting to do so. It seems like modern music acts are more interested in repeating themselves and delivering something renowned artists and bands have recorded and released decades ago. But every once in a while, we are treated with bands that aim for something more than repetitive, predictable, bland music. The bands that know how to deliver fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting music that challenges reasoning and cliches, breaks all the rules, and shapeshifts the boundaries of several styles at once. Panda Clan is certainly one of those bands that caught our attention recently, with their latest piece of work that immediately wraps around the listening apparatus and refuses to let go. With “Leave Your Shit Out Of My Brain,” their latest full-length album, released on streaming platforms on June 12th, this Italian group, consisting of profoundly creative musicians, forces you to think outside the box and embrace the experimental side of so many styles at once. And the collection of music genres explored in this material is more than impressive. Throughout twelve exceptional songs, Panda Clan deep dives headfirst into metalcore, alternative metal, nu metal, post-metal, post-rock, industrial, drum and bass, various electronic music styles, and possibly even more. The best part about it is how everything sounds so cohesive, organized, and thoughtfully crafted. And while some of those genres play a significant role in shaping the mood and atmosphere of these songs, others serve as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, and decorations that elevate particular segments or entire songs to new heights. It’s nearly mindblowing how everything is so wisely, expertly, and skillfully constructed not only to satisfy longtime fans of those genres but also draw attention to newbies and picky listeners.

Right off the bat, Panda Clan demonstrates their abilities by delivering dynamic, powerful yet melodic and harmonious sound. This cleverly assembled combination of melody, dynamic, and aggressions is vividly hearable on songs like “Poppy Fields,” an introductory piece that exemplifies how this amalgamation works flawlessly. Their excellent sonic output expands with “Battle Stuggle War (Leave Your Shit Out Of My Brain),” a wisely constructed blend of nu metal groove, rawness, and aggression, industrial rhythmic patterns, and industrial arrangements. From vocal arrangements, excellent synth lines, and heavy guitars to distorted basslines and energetic beats, the band thought about everything. Through soothing, ethereal industrial soundscapes showcased on verses, and heavy metalcore maneuvers explored during the choruses, Panda Clan questions modern manipulation and slavery on “Happy Slave.” It’s one of those songs that vividly criticizes modern society, and this band knows how to do it properly. And the industrial metal sound suits them so well. “Crisis” is one of those standout songs where every synth line matches powerful, palm-muted riffs while the whispery vocals and well-accentuated beats lurk around. The band demonstrates all the power during the choruses, where every instrument and melodic shout rings in harmony. Panda Clan further expands their sound with a regular and hip-hop version of “Ignavia.” And while the original version enchants with those catchy, memorable, engaging synth sequences, harmonies, melodies, exceptional guitar works, and groovy rhyhtmic patterns, the hip-hop version, obviously, carries a similar vibe but applied to levitate somewhere between industrial, dark ambient electronica, and hip-hop. Both versions are equally good, as they prove that Panda Clan is capable of writing and composing music in any style. “Incudine” carries a similar sound like the previous song, by blending hip-hop, industrial, electronica, and nu metal together. It’s another marvelous composition where the band stacks each segment with so many marvelous vocal, sonic, and rhythmic maneuvers.

And just when you thought this band could not impress you more, they unleash “Abjure,” a heavy, powerful, colossal slab of modern metalcore, paired with post-metal and industrial elements. The guitar riffs perfectly blend with profoundly melodic vocals and catchy synths, while the heavy, intricate, warm-sounding basslines and commanding beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics keep everything in line. You’ll notice how the band put extra effort into all vocal, sonic, and rhythmic arrangements, making this composition another standout that will become a staple on your playlist. And there are two versions of “Abiogenesis,” an original rendition and one featuring the guest appearance of Suso. The original version resonates with a fine blend of modern metal, industrial, and electronica, while the rendition featuring Suso includes more ethereal, hypnotic, addictive vocal lines, subtle rhyhtmic patterns, and dark ambient achieved with synths. This epic sonic journey comes to an end with “No Kings,” a perfect closing composition featuring the guest appearance of Aquadrop. It demonstrates all the power of this incredible band. There are all the mentioned music genres combined together into a colossal slab of harmonious noise, creating a perfect industrial metal song, empowered with heavy riffs, powerful shouts, manipulative electronica, incredible synth lines, and groovy beats. Such a perfect closure of an incredible album, forcing you to repeat the entire journey all over again. To be honest, music outlets like Panda Clan are considered a rarity nowadays, and we must preserve and respect bands like these due to their boundless, fascinating creativity, talent, skills, knowledge, and experience. With “Leave Your Shit Out Of My Brain,” they’ve created a masterpiece that not only showcases how industrial metal can sound so fresh and unique but also pushes so many music genres at once into uncharted territories, creating a captivating sonic universe that immediately indulges your listening apparatus. Therefore, you should immediately place this gem on your music radar, because the band, like Panda Clan, certainly deserves your utmost attention.