Vermont based post-punk band Pons just released their debut full length album, Intellect, a few weeks ago.
The band was originally formed back in 2018 by longtime friends and collaborators Sam Cameron and Jack Parker.
This album comes after the release of 3 different EP’s over the course of less than three years. By the time the band put out their second EP, Being the Prey, the band found itself moving is a more dancy/post-punk direction.
In the summer of 2019 they made an addition to their group with Sebastien Carnot as the rhythm section.
The band is clearly influenced by acts like The Stooges, David Bowie and Death Grips.
Intellect will be the first release on a label run by the band, STICK N’ MOVE RECORDS.
The themes covered in the lyrics range from paranoia, technology and consumerism.
Pons spent 2019 and the beginning of 2020 touring relentlessly throughout the U.S. and Canada. They got to be known for their theatrical and unpredictable live shows.
On any given night you could catch the guys in suits, animal masks, or maybe both.
Their live shows pushed the boundaries all the way to performing at an event called Big Top, where Pons combined their set with professional circus theatrics.
They have continued to garner a cult following with their last three singles being hyped up by Nardwuar and played on his radio show.
Along with the influences I mentioned earlier, it’s easy to hear similarities to The Clash and even one of my personal favorites, The Mars Volta.
Intellect is a super noisy post-punk album that has surprises at every turn.
Some of the tracks (“Primal Urge”) are brutal and fast paced, where others are more melodic and experimental.
This is the type of release that leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Pons holds endless potential in their hands. There are so many diverse ideas and executions on this record that they could be capable of nearly anything in the future.