Rating: 5/5 stars

After a four-year hiatus, I DONT  KNOW  HOW  BUT THEY FOUND ME (“Razzmatazz”) has returned with “Gloom Division.” Produced by Dave Fridmann (Tame Impala, MGMT), this is Dallon Weekes’ first album without his previous partner Ryan Seaman, who left the duo back in September 2023 according to reporting from Rock Sound. Weekes is known for his work in Panic! At the Disco (“Vices & Virtues”) from 2009 to 2017 as well as his lesser-known solo work under the title The Brobecks (“Violent Things”). Weekes has been known to experiment in each of his songs, and “Gloom Division” is no exception as the album ultimately flips fans’ perception of the group’s style.

“What Love” was the first song that was teased for the album. The music video was released on Oct. 5th, four months before the release of the album. The song itself is a drastic change compared to the previously produced songs. “What Love” has a more city pop feel to it rather than the alternative sound that fans are used to. Weekes ditches the guitar to create what feels like a more heavily-produced pop song. While this is not necessarily bad, it causes whiplash for most fans as this song acted as a teaser for what was to come. 

Four months later, “Gloom Division” was released with a 12-song tracklist. While this is a far cry from their first album, “Razzmatazz,” it is a welcome change. The group grew in popularity from their music video for “Do It All the Time,” a song that practically defined the group to be an electronic-based pop-punk band. While their following songs felt similar in tone and lyrics, it did not stop Weekes from changing his sound. The artist utilizes his new creative liberties to give each song its own personality and sound while meshing them all together so none of them feel out of place. “Sunnyside” was the biggest surprise of the album as it features Will Joseph Cook, an indie artist who is known for “Be Around Me,” making it the first collaboration for the group. The song itself is a great mix between the two artists’ styles and is reminiscent of “Choke,” another popular song for the group. 

Between the mix of rock, alternative and pop, “Gloom Division” is a treat for any fan of the pop-punk genre as it delivers a certain niche that many have been waiting for. While some fans may be put off by the change, Weekes shares that it is exactly what he attempted to accomplish with this album.

In an interview with Rock Sound, he talked about the track “SPKOTHDVL” which is emo shorthand for “speak of the devil.” Weekes said the theme of that track in particular is about expectation versus reality.

“Particularly whenever a band that you like puts out a new record. If they decide to take a step in a new direction or evolve a little bit musically, that can sometimes be disconcerting to a fan, because there’s this thing that you love, and you’ve defined it, and you put it into this box,” Weekes said. “I’ve always wanted to be the kind of artist that writes whatever kind of song I want to.” 

Overall, “Gloom Division” is Dallon Weekes’ testament to music. Fans can listen to this album and see how far he has come as an artist and respect his passion. While this album may not be for everyone, anyone who is a fan of Dave Fridmann’s work with MGMT or Tame Impala may need to check out this album. 

Image from I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME via YouTube