Pudgel by Pudgel

We couldn’t possibly close out the year without yet another incredible project from Las Vegas’s underground scene! Pudgel has released their self titled debut album, an intense and high energy exploration of noisey post punk, art rock, and alternative indie/pop. Dissonant chords immediately grab your attention then lurch into a wonky yet undeniably catchy riff, sliding into moments of psychedelia before snapping back to its frantic thrumming. Each song builds remarkably well, playing with speed, volume, and as a result, instability. As intensity builds, so does a sense of paranoia as spidery guitars and frantic drumming set the stage for panicked vocals, exploring themes like anxiety, societal unease, and lost friendships. Intense punk-skewed sounds give way to subtle yet crisp math rock that then toes its way to a sludgier sound, scraping along and slowing to a halt. Each musical idea establishes itself prominently and confidently before being thrown to the side, this energetic approach leading to an extremely satisfying listen as Pudgel explores a huge array of sounds in its 20-ish minutes.

- Carrie