Soul Glo's Diaspora Problems is a unique hardcore record

The band Soul Glo is set to release a new record titled NA I’M GON GRAB ALLAT in January. While two singles have already been released, fans are currently revisiting the group's 2022 album, Diaspora Problems, and an earlier project, Songs to Yeet at the Sun.

The track “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?)” serves as an opening salvo for the ages. The song begins with a bong rip that leads into a catchy hardcore riff, accompanied by frontman Pierce Jordan ranting. As the music moves into a half-time stomp, Jordan becomes fully unhinged, screaming, “Who gon beat my ass? Who the fuck gon beat my ass?” The energy remains high as the song shifts through different sections while Jordan shreds his vocal cords, asking, “Can I live?” before stating: “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”.

The intensity of the record rarely decreases from that point. The song “Coming Correct” starts with a cough and a steady 808, offering listeners only three seconds to breathe before Jordan shouts, “I try to listen the way, I wanna be listened to.” The track quickly builds up, reaching a full firestorm within 25 seconds and maintaining that level for the remainder of its three-minute runtime.

The initial portion of the album consists of unrelenting hardcore songs. Jordan’s charisma is evident as he moves between leftist rhetoric, humorous comments about smoking weed, and vulnerable discussions regarding his struggles with depression. His rapid-fire vocal delivery is difficult to follow and draws inspiration from both modern rappers and classic hardcore groups such as Minor Threat and Bad Brains.

Track six, titled “Driponomics,” incorporates modern influences including trap snares, wall-rattling 808 kicks, and a guest verse from Mother Maryrose. The sampled guitar sounds evoke the saxophone squeals associated with the Bomb Squad, though with a heavier tone.

The album reaches its conclusion with “Spiritual Level Of Gang Shit,” which features guest verses from McKinley Dixon and Lojii set against echoed guitar melodies and a dub-inspired groove. At the 2:20 mark, the tone shifts as the guitars become punishing and the drums move to a standard hardcore beat. Almost a minute later, the track reaches its final form when a horn section begins to play.

While Soul Glo might appear to be traditionalists influenced by the DC scene when compared to modern hardcore bands like Turnstile, Diaspora Problems demonstrates the group’s ambition and willingness to take risks. The band plays with genre, maintains confrontational politics, and remains uncompromising. They are also known for their live performances, including a Tiny Desk Concert that is believed to be the first to feature a mosh pit in the NPR offices.

The album Diaspora Problems can be found on Bandcamp and various major streaming services, such as Qobuz, Deezer, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.