Dallon Weekes shows he’s more than a former Panic! At the Disco Member in IDKHOW’s “GLOOM DIVISION”

By: Joanne Haner

Dallon Weekes has come a long way since his days as a Panic! At the Disco bassist. The frontman and bassist of I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, often known as iDKHOW, never loses his edge while developing a new and unique sound. In their second studio album, “GLOOM DIVISION,” iDKHOW ventures into different tempos and themes, breaking into a slightly more indie pop and mellow tone in several tracks while staying true to their modern grunge vibe. 

Photos: MANICPROJECT

Longtime fans of iDKHOW can take comfort in their high production quality and layered instrumentals. Just like in their previous album, “RAZZMATAZZ” and their first EP, “1981”, they continue to inject robotic voice interludes throughout the project, giving a sense of mysteriousness and building a continued brand that former Hot Topic kids and alternative rock fans can appreciate. Synthesizers and guitar solos pepper through the tracks, complimenting Weekes’ high vocal range and passionate singing. 

In terms of meaning and theme, gloom definitely is the word to describe it. Songs about loneliness, painful yearning, vanity and death fill the album, but somehow it doesn’t feel like a downer at all. For example, “SIXFT,” the sixth track on the album, contains seemingly morbid lyrics such as “Tried to bewitch your mind / But I let love die / How I failed / Oh but how I tried,” yet the chords and light snare feel airy and light compared to iDKHOW’s general sound. Weekes tells the story of a toxic lover, an unhealthy relationship that pushes each other to be their worst — repeating “I don’t want to see you darling / six feet underground” during the chorus.  

Similarly, “INFATUATION” is the most smooth and calming track of the release. Weekes’ voice breaks into a more gentle falsetto than fans might be used to — a new side of him that works in nice contrast with the album as a whole. Soft vocals and melodic harmonies coupled with a gentle snare in a less intense and less layered version of their slower work. Compared to “FIND ME,” which uses dissonant synthesized voices and robotic beeping to shift the mood, songs like “INFATUATION” show that iDKHOW can do more of the same. On the opposite end, the strong bass riffs and whiny, rough vocals of “GLOOMTOWN BRATS'' are more reminiscent of iDKHOW’s previous work — especially that of their first EP. It’s the head-banging, edgy type of alternative that scratches a particular itch. 

As iDKHOW dips their toes into new water and more mellow sounds, they show that they’re capable of different vibes of the genre. Who knows what is to come of them in the future, whether it’s more of what’s already working for them or a slightly smoother path.