ALBUM: pink suits – ‘Dystopian Hellscape’

Whatever the follow-up to 2021’s Political Child would end up being, it had exponentially growing shoes to fill. pink suits‘ debut album cemented the Margate duo as a politically-charged riot, and whatever came next had an increasingly turbulent global environment to engage with. Thankfully, Dystopian Hellscape is an astute and comprehensive reaction to existing in the mess that is Tory Britain in 2024.

The album, which consists of a whopping 16 tracks, kicks off with their playful warm-up song, ‘C.O.F.F.E.E.‘ It’s a high energy, fun start to the journey you’re about to embark on through the whiplash of experiences the new album covers. 

Then they launch right into the title track, ‘Dystopian Hellscape’, which doesn’t pull a single punch when it comes to calling out the choices a handful of powerful people have made that are making life difficult for everyone else. The track uses news stories that are depressingly familiar to anyone paying attention right now to create a tapestry of struggle that builds up in a horrifying picture of contemporary life. The screaming guitars, drums and vocals generate a great cathartic release in response to hypocrisy and selfishness on the part of not only politicians, but the fractured society that allows them to thrive. The transphobes and anti-vaxxers and climate deniers who cling to the hate that has made up their identity.

Over the course of the album, the duo examines politics (‘A Comprehensive Breakdown of How Trickle-Down Economics Works’), cultural bankruptcy (‘I Don’t Have Crypto’), internal anxiety (‘Things I Told My Therapist’, ‘Kimberly May’), queerphobic micro-aggressions (‘Are You Get Yet?‘), societal hypocrisy (‘Tofu Wokerati’) and the general sense of overwhelming overload of having to exist in a world with all of those things bombarding you near constantly all at the same time (‘Don’t Talk to Me’). With each topic they engage with, pink suits know exactly how to drive home a point that leaves you unable to ignore the message they’re putting across. They have a mastery of lines that jump out and punch you in the gut, encompassing enormous and complex issues in concise summaries that get right to the point and linger with you.

But, amongst all the things that make this planet dystopian and hellish, pink suits pause for more playful tracks that remind you that it’s worth sticking around for the moments of community and queer joy you can get. There is righteous anger rich with rebellious hope (‘Refuse the Rules‘) and reminders that taking care of yourself is not only vital (‘Be Good to Yourself’), but an act of rebellion in itself (‘Self Care is Punk’), along with celebrations of the pockets of space that do exist where community can flourish and life can be fun (‘Margate Arts Club’).

This is an album that leads you by the hand to places where you can’t help but look at some of the most horrible aspects of society and see the monstrous side of humanity. But they make sure you get to stop for a breather exactly when you need it, to focus on some self-care and take a look around at all the other people rallying alongside you. Dystopian Hellscape cements the band as insightful and intelligent, as well as fun and talented performers. The riffs are fuzzy, the drums are infectious, the melodies are catchy and it’s impossible not to get swept up into the rock and rage attitude that is pink suits’ signature vibe.

Dystopian Hellscape, the second album from pink suits, is out now, listen and buy via Bandcamp. The band are currently tour and their live show is something else, so make sure you don’t miss out – tickets and info here.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt