As Palaye Royale - brothers Remington Leith (vocals), Sebastian Danzig (guitar), and Emerson Barrett (drums) - were completing work on Death Or Glory, their fourth album, they learned that their mother Stephanie had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. She died just nine months later. “This record means so much more to us now, because life is short,” Sebastian Danzig said in the run-up to the release of the band's follow-up to 2022's Fever Dream, and, accordingly, there's a genuine sense of living in the moment, fearlessly and unapologetically, at the core of the album.
Given their often-professed love of classic British rock music, the Las Vegas trio are presumably only too aware that Death Or Glory is a Clash song title, for the adventurous, carpe diem spirit, if not sound, of 'the last gang in town' permeates this concise, flab-free 12-song set. Granted Joe Strummer would never have penned a lyric such as “I’m fucking horny, take off my clothes” (Death Or Glory) but he'd doubtless approve of Remington Leith defiantly advising “Piss people off if you want to be free”.
Influences from English bands crop up all over Death Or Glory. Hot Mess sounds like Buck Rogers-era Feeder trying to tap into Olivia Rodrigo's fan-base, and the vaudeville swing of Dark Side Of The Silver Spoon is Panic! At The Disco-meets-The Libertines at their most engagingly sloppy, with such a blatant nod to All The Young Dudes in its middle eight that we imagine David Bowie's name will be added to the songwriting credits before 2024 is out. Elsewhere, Leith's Anglophile vocals make Been Too Long sound so much like an unreleased Struts song that you half expect Joe Elliott to pop up on backing vocals.
This said, Palaye Royale have enough character, charm and chutzpah to ensure that they transcend their obvious influences. Ache In My Heart is a brilliantly addictive, slyly subversive pop song with dark lyrics - “You were calling me daddy, cocaine and addy... We fuck on a Monday, I know you like it rough” - that'll ensure it'll never gets played on radio, anywhere. For You is another hook-laden gem, and the snarling Mr Devil manages to incorporate elements of My Chemical Romance, Nirvana and System Of A Down in a manner that would sound excellent in a festival headline set. Given that the trio are due to play London's 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena in November, that possibility isn't out of the question before the decade closes. While the biting Showbiz is proof that Palaye Royale aren't ignorant of the seedier, more rapacious side of the music industry, that doesn't mean that they lack the ambition or talent to shoot for the stars.
Beyond anything, however, with Death Or Glory are simply hoping to make their late mother proud. And regardless of chart placings, review ratings, or online approval, this album is undoubtedly the work of men who've committed to their art whole-heartedly, and pushed themselves to their limits in pursuit of excellence. No parent could wish for more from their beloved children.
