What is that sweet melody caressing your eardrums? Fuck yeah, they did it again. THE MERCURY RIOTS have been busy as hell lately. They just returned from legendary Wacken Open Air after playing the LGH Clubstage on Monday – ready to release another video single from their critically acclaimed album In Solstice.
After the release of their very first single Be Yours this April, as a foretaste of their blazing hot new record In Solstice, which we have had the pleasure to enjoy online everywhere since June 21, THE MERCURY RIOTS are now topping it off with a pleasing summer hit for everyone – surprising us with another video single: Sweet Melody. On the new track, the four besties from L.A. delight us once again with their hard and heavy tunes, which sound even sexier this time (who knows how they do it?).
A Sweet Melody for your playlist: https://orcd.co/sweet_melody
Listen to the full album In Solstice here: https://orcd.co/insolstice2
You’re going to find yourself bouncing your feet to these smooth guitar sounds, rocking your head to the captivating vocals, and finger tapping to the banging drums of this earwormy crowd pleaser. Sweet Melody is a captivating blend of rock’n’roll energy and melodic hooks. The song’s driving rhythm and bluesy guitar riffs create a dynamic backdrop for its compelling vocals. And its catchy chorus is both memorable and emotionally resonant, making it a standout track. The song’s deeply romantic lyrics evoke a picture of smoke filled, drunken strolls on sleepless nights with your soulmate as well as a strong us-both-against-the-world-vibe. Sweet Melody is about the comfort of having that one person in your life that you know will be there with you, through thick and thin, that partner in crime that will be there to help you to take on the world and live each day as if it were your last.
The video (directed by Niko Rtshiladze) definitely has a mesmerizing artsy style to it, which can be attributed to the inventive production technique. The production quality is top-notch, enhancing the raw, authentic feel of the music and Rtshiladze’s direction truly brings out the essence of L.A.’s rock culture. The video sees all four band members, Felipe Rodrigo (guitar), Jonny Udell (drums), Justin Walker (lead vocals), and Fede Delfino (bass) – long hair, dark clothes, a naughty twinkle in their eyes and the provocative hint of a dirty smirk on their lips – casually strutting through their hometown Los Angeles and locations like the famous Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard: visuals perfectly enhancing the song’s energetic vibe and perfectly complementing the mood of the track. With the festival season soon coming to an end, it’s time to refill your level of L.A. muscle rock and keep the good vibes going with another healthy dose of boogie-esque rock’n’roll, garnished with an adequate amount of raunchy growling.
And this is the vibe THE MERCURY RIOTS are currently also bringing to Europe during their tour – and just brought to the legendary LGH Clubstage at Wacken Open Air, where the genius live-artists delivered a killer performance. Check out their interview on Instagram: HERE
You exhausted the repeat button until your fingers got sore but you’re still suffering from withdrawal symptoms from that pure, raw, mesmerizing sound? No worries! Here’s where you can still catch THE MERCURY RIOTS in August 2024:
Aug 10 – Malmo Festival – Rock Stage – Malmo, Sweden
Aug 14 – Vasteras Officersmass – Vasteras, Sweden
Aug 16 – Billy Bootleggers – Nottingham, UK
Aug 17 – Gifford Arms – Wolverhampton, UK
Aug 18 – Vinyl Tap – Preston, UK
Aug 23 – Musikhuset – Gavle, Sweden
Aug 24 – Suomi Live – Tornio, Finland
Aug 31 – Eksjo Stadsfest – Eksjo, Sweden
Track list In Solstice
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
In Solsticereleased on June21, 2024
Available here: https://orcd.co/insolstice2
And here: https://www.themercuryriots.com/
About THE MERCURY RIOTS
So who the fuck are these guys, who won the prestigious HRH Award in the Rising Stars category only two years after getting together as a band in the middle of a pandemic? Simple answer: killer musicians, and highly sought after guns for hire in the pulsating protoplasma of the L.A. heavy music scene.
And with the lockdowns taking away all means of getting their hands dirty and their bellies boozed up in a rich L.A. nightlife, the four best friends unceremoniously started their own gig: THE MERCURY RIOTS. But how come that they don’t just sound like your regular L.A. sleaze rockers, you may wonder.
THE MERCURY RIOTS are simply immune to such trends, as their individual cultural heritage truly makes for a gang of motley dogs, drawing inspiration from Metallica just as much as they do from, say, Muddy Waters or ZZ Top. Their style may have been nurtured and their friendship forged in the wild heart of Los Angeles but all their passion and the inclination towards virtuosity – well, each of them has brought those to the City Of Angels in their luggage: from New Orleans, where Justin Walker’s voice was born and raised to tune in to traditional southern blues, as to rock and metal.
From the vibrant city of Montevideo, Uruguay, where Fede Delfino learned to channel his fiery and passionate energy into buttery smooth bass lines and mesmerizing singing.
From the rough streets of Philadelphia, where Jonny Udell found his rhythm that he exported to the west coast so successfully early on, making his name as the ultimate drum machine.
And last but not least from Uruguay again – with Jonny’s long-term bandmate Felipe Rodrigo and his trusty guitar. Felipe became a musical nomad at a very young age, and embarked on a rock ‘n’ roll journey across the Americas. He and Jonny have successfully played together in the past. Drawing from the heavy punch of metal, they’ve been following the same vision ever since: reignite the boogie in rock ’n’ roll – just bolder and with elegance and stomp being plentiful, yet presented in a perfect equilibrium. That vision’s got a new name now!
And the quality of the sound is by no means a fluke either: Before heading out for a ginormous European tour later that year, THE MERCURY RIOTS flew to Vancouver, Canada, in 2023 to record In Solstice with no other than legendary producer/engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, METALLICA, AEROSMITH, JOE SATRIANI), who co-produced, mixed and engineered the album at The Warehouse Studio and Armoury Studios. While Mr. Fraser brilliantly captured all the powerful riffing, soulful vocals and pumping rhythms, the band decided to put the fine art of mastering in equally golden hands: It had to be Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound (THE BLACK KEYS, GRETA VAN FLEET, THE NATIONAL). Stating the obvious, the result sounds fuckin’ awesome!
THE MERCURY RIOTS online:
https://www.facebook.com/themercuryriots/
https://www.instagram.com/themercuryriots/
https://www.youtube.com/@themercuryriots
