mules has released their debut self-titled EP, four tracks that showcase the band’s musical capabilities as they make their entry into the Los Angeles music scene. The EP kicks off with a flurry of noise, making the band’s first statement on the opening track immediate and creating a level of excitement for what’s to follow on the remaining tracks.
After the brief thirty-second burst of introductory noise on “Scary Bug”, mules transitions to their scheduled programming, leaving a guitar melody that carries the song forward. This smartly shows that mules carefully thought out their mission statement in their debut EP. The singer’s vocals also land with impact, demanding the listener’s attention while amplifying their intent even further. Switching between clean vocals to a yell/scream that wouldn’t be out of place among post-hardcore bands the mid-2000s, shows that the band is capable of creating texture and toggling a range of emotions.
The second track “and Albatross” introduces a country twang added to the guitar, showing that the band is able to continue embracing a variety of genres and sounds. This track leads to a build-up that feels like a spillover of emotion that seeps into the next track.
The third song on the EP, “Lancaster”, strips back the sound. While the musical formula starts to feel like a repetition of the first two songs, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because they are a young band going for it finding ideas from as many resources as they can. They avoid a rinse-and-repeat pattern on the closing track “Once Was” which provides an uplifting and forward-looking sound, a perfect closing to the EP.
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