For crowds that yearn for a taste of both metal and alternative-rock tunes, Illinois-based band, Man the Mighty, may be just what those music fans are searching for. With a consistency of palm-muting, metal riffs, and even potential guitar sweeps, the harder rock scene is in for a treat with the upcoming EP, Beneath The Skin. As the music business is ever-changing with a surplus of acts coming in and out of fame, it is evident that Man the Mighty will be ascending the scales on rock charts as they attain more exposure within the industry.
The EP opens with the title track, “The Things We Do For Dreams,” which showcases melodies similar to bands such as: Alterbridge, Alice In Chains, and even Killswitch Engage (minus the screaming). The album opens with an obvious style of drop-D or even drop-C tuning, which embraces both darker and heavier tones, but also makes way for a wider vocal range with such free space in the melodies. The next track, “Sick,” touches upon the vocals of the band’s front man, with violin tracks in the background, and an angry, yet emotional style of singing. However, the EP meshes together with an equal blend of relationship-forced lyrics, as well as a mix of soft, yet hard-driven vocal tones, showcased specifically in track three, “Hourglass.” With this track, the singer starts off soft, while a fast-paced acoustic guitar is picked back and forth in the background. The song represents tones similar to Evanescence, but replaced with a male lead. In the last tracks of the album, “Over You” and “Tear ME Down,” the band combines synthesizers with the guitar riffs to capture heavier, yet more intense harmonies. “Over You” can be considered the necessary “rock ballad” of the album; however, “Tear ME Down” wraps up the album with a soft intro, moving into a dark and catchy chorus, and finishes the album with powerful palm-muting, and a solid ending.
Although the album relates to a certain type of music crowd and is clearly ready for contemporary rock radio, Man the Mighty writes catchy rock hooks that stay consistent throughout the course of the EP. Rather than appeal solely to alternative fans, the band makes sure to shape their choruses in order to appeal to even more listeners as well as carry out harder melodies with pop-infused choruses. Broadcasters should be prepared for an upcoming act that will soon appear on the play lists of alternative rock radio, and feed the listeners with a down-tuned, metal tempo that will bring new music to their ears.
Key Tracks: The Things We Do for Dreams, Sick, Tear ME Down
Erin Albertson – MuzikReviews.com Contributor
July 7, 2010
