Picnic Lightning are a rock band from Fort Worth in Texas who play a mixture of everything from alternative rock to psych rock to gothic rock, influenced by And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Arcade Fire and Courtney Barnet as well as Velvet Underground and The Beatles

The band formed in 2013 with Thomas Ketchersid on vocals and guitar, Cole Watkins on lead vocals and guitar, John Cope on bass and vocals and Cameron Navarro on drums and vocals and Simulacra is their latest single, released on 03/03/2023.

The track starts off quite serenely before chanting vocals kick in and the whole song erupts with heavy guitar riffs and pounding drums.

The alternative rock influence is plain to hear but it’s the gothic sound from the late 80’s which comes from the vocals, that really makes this track stand out. Fuzzy guitars and dusty drums are also very prevalent throughout the track, giving off an almost stoner rock vibe too.

This track not only blurs the lines between genres, but also between instruments and vocals and this gives the track a very dark and brooding atmospheric sound. The track is a haunting one and one that stays true to the band’s desert punk sound. The sound the band have created is very captivating, almost hypnotic and listening to this track just once is impossible as it has so much to offer, making it quite progressive in places.

This is a great track that builds in intensity and becomes quite anthemic. I would love to hear more from this band so I am heading to Spotify to see what I can find. Check them out and see what you think too.

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum