While contemporaries such as Turnstile dominate current aggressive music trends, Soul Glo sets themselves apart by blending classic Washington D.C. punk roots with fearless experimentalism. Their 2022 release Diaspora Problems stands out as an uncompromising, politically charged masterpiece that defies genre boundaries without sacrificing intensity. Stage performances by the group are notoriously ferocious, having witnessed them in person on at least four separate occasions. Remarkably, their appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert even triggered what was likely the very first mosh pit inside those broadcast studio offices.
Lead vocalist Pierce Jordan delivers hyper-speed lyrics bridging radical political thought, humorous references to cannabis, and raw personal revelations regarding mental health struggles. His frantic vocal approach owes an equal debt to legendary punk pioneers like Bad Brains and Minor Threat as it does to contemporary rap artists. This hip-hop fusion peaks on the sixth track, “Driponomics,” which incorporates heavy 808 kicks, trap percussion, guest vocalist Mother Maryrose, and sampled guitars reminiscent of the Bomb Squad’s chaotic horn chops. The effort culminates with “Spiritual Level Of Gang Shit,” featuring McKinley Dixon and Lojii over dub-inflected rhythms before shifting into heavy hardcore beats at the 2:20 mark and eventually introducing a full horn section nearly a minute later.
The album launches with devastating momentum on “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?),” opening with a bong rip and aggressive riffing as Jordan bellows “Who gon beat my ass? Who the fuck gon beat my ass?” The track shifts into a stomping halftime rhythm while the vocalist screams “Can I live?” before declaring, “Say more, say less, it’s all the same
When it’s time to die we can meet outside
To see who gon feel my pain”. Without allowing listeners a chance to recover, “Coming Correct” begins with a cough, a steady 808 pattern, and three brief seconds of calm before Jordan shouts “I try to listen the way, I wanna be listened to.” and transforms the track into a full firestorm by 25 seconds in across its three-minute runtime.
As listeners eagerly await the band’s newly announced project NA I’M GON GRAB ALLAT scheduled for a January arrival, these earlier tracks remain essential listening. The two preview singles already released are hardly enough to tide fans over, prompting frequent returns to Songs to Yeet at the Sun alongside their 2022 full-length LP. Diaspora Problems easily ranks among the finest punk releases of the 21st century for its unrelenting energy and unmatched ambition. Enthusiasts can stream this impressive record across digital providers including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Deezer, Qobuz, and Bandcamp.
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