What I really like about Young Bloods is its energy, despite the fact that it was recorded, in the words of the band Mercy Terrace, “through the anxiety of the pandemic.” There isn’t a hint of anxiety on the opening self-titled track, “Young Bloods.” In fact, it’s a jubilant intro with a Brit-pop rock aesthetic. They sound, at times, a bit like an American version of Blur, and that’s a great thing for somebody who craves more of that sound. The guitar and bouncy vocals are so catchy and dance-worthy. This song sounds like a lost anthem from the ‘90s or ‘00s, but that’s no bad thing. I’d love to see a sound like this come back. What a feel-good and electrifying opening track from Mercy Terrace. The first song on an album is so important, and the band definitely got that memo.
“The Cat Stays Home” surprised me, as the band does a complete U-turn and churns out an absolute banger but in a completely different style. This is a grungy, garage-rock anthem with a hint of influence from bands like Weezer and The Offspring. There’s a great melody to this one; I love the stop-start power chords in the chorus. The vocals have such a great tone, too; the deep, mellow vibe in the verses is perfect for the style. There is still a very upbeat feel to the style, so there’s definitely consistency to their sound. “Miss Memory” is driven by a heavily-distorted, finger-picked melody and punchy drums. Joyous? Absolutely. No matter how many genres they utilize, Mercy Terrace maintains the same feel in each and every track. They’re consistent in that sense. That’s what ties the album together. I love the bold and powerful guitar in the choruses on this track. “Living With Dread” definitely marks a return to the poppy ‘90s feel of the opening track. I love the explosive drum-work on this song, and the vocals are great. Are these guys incapable of writing a bad melody? I think so. “I Don’t Believe in Coincidence” adopts a gentler instrumental aesthetic, and it’s an unexpected but beautiful change of pace. The bass rhythm is so silky-smooth. The melody is gorgeous, as well, but it’s the singing that really steals the show on this one. The vocal tone on this track might be my favorite style of the entire album. The chord progression has a soothing quality to it, too. The descending chords just sound so perfectly placed. And it transitions into the happiest song on the album, “Too Many Cigarettes.” This is definitely tied with the previous track for the title of favorite vocal performance. Another wonderful chord progression on the acoustic guitar, too. “Here, Now, Forever” is the perfect final track for this album. The guitar and warbling synth strings gel so well. The electric guitar note bends add little drops of beauty to an already-stunning song. This song is so beautiful. The second half of this album is so different from the first. I love the versatility of this band. I can’t wait to hear what they do next. This album is definitely worth your time.
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April 2024
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