Psychedelic Roots: The Rise of Post Animal
Side A
Six guys. Tons of hair and even more talent. They’re an indie rock band with a psychedelic edge that doesn’t just play songs, they take you on a journey.
Written by: Lauren Silvester
Post Animal, a product of basements, dive bars, buzzing amps, and the irresistible allure of psych-laced indie rock, has a unique sound. The band—Dalton Allison, Jake Hirshland, Javier Reyes, Joe Keery, Matt Williams, and Wesley Toledo—craft a sound that's akin to a fever dream. Imagine swirling guitars, heavy grooves, and melodies that hit especially hard after a late-night haze (iykyk). Their music isn’t just a journey; it's a launch into deep, sonic waters.
It's as if Post Animal vibrates between worlds where rock meets relaxation. These are two main things I look for in music, and they deliver on both in spades. The relaxation comes in the form of music that reminds me of the mellow and hypnotic pulses of Pink Floyd and the slow-burn magic felt by Fleetwood Mac.
Then there’s the headbanging, full-body-thrashing energy that echoes the grit of Black Sabbath or the raw punch of Nazz. Post Animal scratches every sonic itch in my brain, building a soundscape that pulls me in and messes with my head in the best way possible. The further you fall into their discography, the more obvious it becomes that there’s a bond between them that lights the fire behind every track. A true band of brothers.
They hit the ground running with their debut EP released in 2015, Post Animal Perform the Most Curious Water Activities (only Matt, Dalton, Jake and Joe at the time), a true kaleidoscopic trip of psychedelic textures and funky guitar riffs.
For me, listening to this EP was like revisiting that first mind-bending experience of hearing Dark Side of the Moon or Demon Days, albums that weren’t just collections of tracks, but full-on trips. The standouts for me are Goggles and Aral Sea. After hearing those first two songs, I was instantly hooked. When listening, I could clearly tell they have the desire to let the music do the talking. Some tracks go all in on the instrumentals, dialing back on the vocals in favour of atmosphere and groove. Something they carry throughout most of their music. From the get-go, the band creates a signature blend of groove and grit that is truly impressive and undeniable.
Then comes the EP, The Garden Series, a brilliant follow-up to their debut, enriched by the fuller sound of their expanding lineup. It’s also home to one of my favourite tracks they’ve done: You Were Not There. It doesn’t just play, it pulls you under. Suddenly, you’re standing in a dimly lit bar on some forgotten street in Chicago. The walls sweat with sound, the kind that drowns out your thoughts. Pool balls crack like thunder in the distance, smoke coils through flickering neon, and drinks spill more often than secrets.
It’s the kind of night that blurs as it happens, a beautiful mess you vanish into without thinking twice. It’s a song that truly leans into the rock side of their music. On the flipside, for some relaxation, we have When I Get Home. It stands out in a different way, it’s pure chill. It’s smooth, hazy and the perfect addition to that playlist you have for a late night walk.
In 2018, they released their first official LP When I Think of You in a Castle, where they continue to show their uncanny knack of balancing the worlds of grit and chill throughout. It’s full of tracks that sneak into your brain and refuse to leave for days. Stand outs on this one are: Gelatin Mode–this song hits on mental health, loneliness, and getting stuck in your own head. It's about trying to keep up in a world that won’t let you breathe. About that slow spiral descent into feeling nothing.
Into the detached “gelatin mode”. The shift from Dalton’s voice in the beginning to Joe’s heavier tone at the drop perfectly mirrors the crash out you’d have experiencing those feelings. Ralphie–this one digs into the mess of trust, insecurity, and wanting to say shit you just can’t. It’s all the tension and bottled-up feelings wrapped up in a song that sounds way happier than it feels.
That contrast? Brutal, but brilliant. Lastly, we have Dirtpicker–a song about expectations, manipulations and not wanting to conform to what others expect or want of you. This song truly showcases everyone individually while also demonstrating how effectively they work together to deliver this absolute fucking banger of a song. They truly made their mark with their first LP.
Just before the album dropped Joe Keery stepped away from the band to focus on acting commitments, not wanting his rising Hollywood fame to overshadow the group's collective talent. He launched his solo project under the name Djo in 2019, establishing a distinct musical identity while still honoring his musical Chicago roots of his past.
The remaining members (Dalton, Jake, Matt, Wes and Javi) continued writing, recording, and performing with the same passion that defined their origin. Both paths prove that genuine musical expression exists independently of commercial success.
Continued on the b-side here.
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