Unabashed. Undaunted. Unreserved. Sibling trio Palaye Royale’s fifth album, “Death or Glory,” lives up to its name

by Catalina Perez | Sept 5, 2024

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Unabashed. Undaunted. Unreserved. Sibling trio Palaye Royale’s fifth album, “Death or Glory,” lives up to its name— it has its pitfalls and triumphs. The Matt Squire-produced LP is self described as “where chaos meets harmony and where we find ourselves struggling between ego and self-destruction, success and desperation, and last but not least, death or glory.” Equal parts pop and punk, the bold statement of an LP flirts with themes of sex, drugs, and rock and roll tumultuous relationships delivered in a My Chemical Romance meets Panic! At The Disco package. 

“Take my clothes off, never stop the party, if you don’t like it then go on and cancel me,” howls lead vocalist Remington Leith in the opener, ‘Death or Glory.’ The message rings clear: Palaye Royale is done with mindless judgements and cancel culture. The track spews the gritty singer’s candid thoughts throughout its entirety via pre-choruses declaring “Piss people off if you want to be free,” and “Yeah you don’t want it ‘cause I’m fucking on it.” ‘Hot Mess’ and ‘Just My Type’ take a deep dive into pop-y waters, employing timeworn love tropes of self-consciousness and One Direction/5 Seconds of Summer-esque lyrics about a crush, but with an emo-laced twist. 

Escorting in a new sound, the sultry and tango infused ‘Ache in My Heart’ opens with a high-pitched vocal effect and subdued acoustic guitar. Supporting the sensually passionate lyrics lies a foundation of patterned breathy sound effects and crisp claps. As the song progresses into the chorus, echoing castanets and trailing synthetic glissandos support the duet between Leith and the high-pitched vocal effect. Standout track ‘Dark Side of the Silver Spoon’ is introduced by elegant and dramatic strings before a ragtime piano and percussion accompaniment come in. Aurally reminiscent of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,’ the social commentary on wealth is encased by a circus-infused aura, diverse instrumentals, and a melodic nod to David Bowie’s ‘All The Young Dudes.’ Confessional piece, ‘Showbiz,’ exposes the not-so-pretty flip side of fame and the music industry, making a reference to the band’s Disney days when they were known as “Kropp Circle.” ‘Pretty Stranger’ ends the album with a fresh-faced, disco-charged rock sound and quirky bridge monologue stating, “Please fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables to their upright position. We’re making the final descent of our trip. We hope you enjoyed the ride and thank you once again for choosing drugs.” 

Palaye Royale’s ‘Death or Glory’ as a whole is triumphant in its self-reflective and frank lyricism combined with its danceable pop punk flair, but it can be tainted at times by a cliché pop essence. Nevertheless, its assorted narratives of grief, intimacy, and fame coupled with an abundance of chaos, growly vocals, and vampiric ambience make for unmistakable Palaye Royale experience. 

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For fans of: Måneskin, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco

Death Or Glory is released on August 30 via Sumerian