Panda House Releases a Banger of a Self-Titled Album
Detroit-based rock band Panda House has been in operation since 2016, so they’ve been around for about 10 years. With a couple of albums under their belt — ‘Ursa Artem’ from 2017, ‘Enjoy Your Habitat’ in 2022, and ‘Someday When We’re Younger’ in 2023, this cycle brought us the ‘self-titled’ era.
I’m not entirely sure if it’s the fact that it’s winter in the Midwest and this album is made just for those feelings, or the fact that I’m the designated (and arguably cringey) “Elder Emo,” but the weight of the lyrics on tracks like “WASTED” kick like a mule to the teeth. This album tackles themes like mental health (“TUMBLE”), love in all its vulnerability (“The Greatest Part of Me”), and, while not confirmed in intent by the band themselves, “Unanswered” with Antighost reads about the perils of making music or creations and wanting the weight of that to mean more than just your own life. Coming from a place of that myself with my own creations, that’s how I absorbed it at least. I’ll run with it.
For some background, Panda House was founded by guitarist Robert Johnson and drummer Anthony Brass, “both sharing a penchant for music creation and original composition.” The current lineup consists of Tobias Hardoin on Guitar/ Vocals (Enjoy Your Habitat, Someday When We’re Younger, The Means), Robert Johnson on Guitar/ Vocals (Ursa Artem, Midnight Fog, Petrified), James Dunstan on bass, and Anthony Brass on Drums.
Coming from the Detroit scene, which, from a rock standpoint in the current day, runs rampant with Midwest emo, post-hardcore, and straight-up hardcore legions, this album falls in a great space between all of those. If you put Panda House on a bill with any of those genres, attendees will walk away fans.
While the guys are connected to where I’m located (Detroit), this album has a global sound, and would be the perfect music discovery for fans that span from bands like The Used, Thursday, Funeral for a Friend, and even some dashes of Hot Mulligan. It also has an element that reaches back to grab the next hands of Michigan talent by collaborating with Detroit-based bands Antighost and Former Critics for 2 songs on the album (“Unanswered” with Antighost, “GHOST” with Former Critics). We love a community that looks out for one another.
Check out the full album on streaming services now, and once you’re obsessed, please visit their website to purchase CDs, vinyls, and shirts.
STREAM: PANDA HOUSE SELF-TITLED ALBUM