Dance Gavin Dance are poised to tear the roof off the mothersuckin’ Patheon when they release an album of the same name next month, and who better to help them than do so than mighty Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton? As such, there’s a whole lot of rhythm going ‘round the post-hardcore eccentrics’ new team-up with Dr. Funkenstein: “Space Cow Initiation Ritual.”
As previously reported, DGD’s 11th album is the first to fully embrace the vocal tandem of guitarist Andrew Wells and screamer Jon Mess. And, indeed, the song does tap into the kinds of melodious-to-aggro dynamics the band have harnessed for years. Lyrically, it’s a bit of a fever dream involving nonstop headaches, friendship anxiety and the never-ending quest to not be such “a little baby bitch.”
On top of all that, we’ve got sassy baritone interjections from the world-renowned Atomic Dog, who barks out his guest spots with gyrated glee (“Don’t stop ’til you funk n’ bump”) as the band thrust into a hip-heaving four-on-the-floor funk-rock feel.
“Getting to work with an icon like George Clinton was surreal,” guitarist Will Swan said in a statement. “It pushed us to dig deeper into the funk and find a balance between his iconic groove and our own post-hardcore edge. ‘Space Cow Initiation Ritual’ blends those worlds in a way that feels fresh but familiar—I think fans of both camps are gonna vibe with it.”
A video for the quirk-heavy collab can be found above.
As for the rest of Pantheon, the release is described as “a record that navigates an undercurrent of instability, frustration and exasperation,” while nevertheless balancing “the classic DGD absurdism for light and relief amongst the darkness of it all.”
“We poured our hearts and souls into this record,” drummer Matthew Mingus had said in an earlier statement. “It has all the signature elements our fans have come to expect, along with fresh sounds and new styles that truly spotlight Andrew as our new vocalist. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride that is Pantheon.”
Pantheon is out September 12th via Rise Records. CD and LP versions of the album are currently available in the Revolver shop.