Album review by; Kayleigh
On the 21st of June, LA rockers The Mercury Riots released their debut album ‘In Solstice’. This may be the quartet’s debut album, but the members are far from new to the scene. Formed by musicians from Warner Drive, The Brave Ones and Bullets And Octane, The Mercury Riots is a sort of super-group that has a sleazy LA rock sound with their own
classic twist.
The first thing I noticed about ‘In Solstice’ is the high quality this album has. It doesn’t feel like a debut release, more like a band that has been together and making music for years. This is an album that is going to make you feel-good and smile while listening to it. Opening ‘In Solstice’ is ‘Make It’ which feels like a warm welcome home, and a gentle reminder that
rock n roll isn’t dead. With an inviting personality it’s hard not to enjoy the opening track.
‘Be Yours’ and ‘LA Girls’ are the two previously released singles off the album. ‘Be Yours’ is a bit more groovy and has a chorus that I’m sure people will love. While ‘LA Girls’ has more sleaze and is fun and energetic. I personally find the single choices interesting as I think there are stronger songs on ‘In Solstice’ but they do ease you into the album before it gets really good.
An easy favourite of mine is ‘Sweet Melody’, the innocent tone of the vocals in the intro are so different to anything previous and it makes a beautiful little addition to ‘In Solstice’, but ‘Sweet Melody’ isn’t all calm and pretty. The drums that begin to pound in the background of this sweet vocal moment let you know something’s coming, and it does. The riff comes packed with groove and energy. This song has a bounce about it, as well as these fired up rock n roll guitars which when put together with the anthemic vocal melody in the chorus, leaves you with a song that I can see people begging to sing-a-long too.
‘Take Me When You Go’ is dirtier and riffier, this one is powered up by the drums and is fired with a classic 70’s rock and roll melody. This one like a few others on ‘In Solstice’ even feels a little bit indie pop with the vocals in the chorus, but there’s no denying that this is a rock song, the chugging guitars make sure of that.
‘Light It Up’ and later in the album ’99 Degrees’ are two songs I’m not going to touch on too much on, they’re good rock songs but I didn’t find there was anything that particularly interested me about them.
Then there’s ‘Save Me A Drink’, which I think any listener of this album could agree that this is a great and super fun track. When listening to it I could fully imagine myself at the bar with my friends having a drink or two. The layered vocals make it feel like everyone’s all together singing along and having a great time. As a lot of drinking story songs do, there’s
a sort of country rock twang to it and ‘Save Me A Drink’ sounds almost exactly like you would imagine it too, and there’s something great about that. This must be one of my most recommended tracks on ‘In Solstice’.
‘Scream It Out’ is another one that is groove driven while also being a little more indie pop in the chorus. It feels like they took a pop song and turned it into a rock song, and it works. It’s a nice uplifting addition to the album.
Closing ‘In Solstice’ is the haunting ‘Nobody Knows’, I am a huge fan of the intro to this song, with the way the guitars build this unsettling atmosphere while the drums ring in the background, this one fully got my attention. It reminds me a lot of the 70’s rock sound and is packed with power. ‘Nobody Knows’ is anthemic and truly shines in the verses where the vocals soar, and also with the guitars that are fired up with a groove that holds the whole thing together.
The Mercury Riots are pulling together genres like blues, rock and indie pop while tying it together with grit and their own musical experience. ‘In Solstice’ overall I thought was a feel-good album, there’s moments that are more haunting or darker but 90% is just good fun, groovy rock n roll. If you’re looking for an album that’ll put you in a good mood this is probably it.
4 out of 5
Tracklist
Make It
Be Yours
LA Girls
Sweet Melody
Take Me When You Go
Light It Up
Save Me A Drink
Scream It Out
99 Degrees
Nobody Knows
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