Introduction
Mercers rose from the ashes of Fony and draw inspiration from Linkin Park, Glassjaw and Deftones. That being said there is a darker underbelly to their sound. Today we review their debut EP The Liminal Tapes!
The band itself is made up of Olly James (Vocals) & Phil Bashford (Guitar) both previously of Fony. Completing the line up are Richard Titheradge (Drums) & Simon Glover (Guitar).
Review
Some bands write to entertain people, others write because they have something bothering them that they need to get off their chest. This is the latter. Tackling mental health, free speech and political matters. In such a way that the message stays clear but it never feels like they’re trying too hard. The music makes the message impactful too!
I’ve always loved a bit of what I call “Warm up guitar”, that sound when you first plug the guitar in. Hearing that on the start of Cleanse/ Repeat instantly put me in the zone. From then onwards crushing riffs, drums that didn’t know how to play quietly (In a good way) only added to my excitement.
Vocals shifting from deep bassy spoken word, aggressive screams and surprisingly strong clean melodies was another layer that was a pleasant surprise to my ears this morning. The profanity in the chorus not only caught me off guard but made me laugh, I won’t spoil it but give it a listen! My only gripe is later in the track the drums occasionally feel like they could sit a bit higher in the mix.
I’d say the biggest strength to this EP is that it never settles into a formula. New Stockholm flips the dynamic entirely, with cleaner vocals taking front and centre with a heavier chorus. Of the two approaches this is the one I prefer.
I get flashes of Queens of the Stone Age, Muse & A Perfect Circle throughout and the drums carry so much more weight here. I think this is my standout moment.
The variety continues through the remainder of the release. A Satire for the World has a real clear contrast between harsh and clean, with added backing vocals that really grow the sound. There’s a clear rawness that reminds me of Alexisonfire also the riff around 2:40 needs to be heard by as many people as possible.
Rounding things out with a more traditional rock sound is January Zen with great riffs and tight instrumentation. I actually really enjoyed this track instrumentally but thought the vocals could do with a little more oomph. The chorus proves why, with it bursting into life.
This EP succeeds because every song brings something different, yet keeps a sense of unity. A couple of production tweaks are probably needed, as is stronger vocal delivery in the quieter moments. Both however small complaints. This is an EP packed full of great riffs and promise. Not to mention tonnes of personality!
72/100
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