MERCURY - THIS PLACE I’M FORGETTING, REPLACED WITH AN ENDING
WORDS BY LEE BARBER
SEPTEMBER 2024
MERCURY, to be frank, have no right in creating so mature a sound with their first official EP. The record opens with the melodramatic, painfully nostalgic tones of Take 14, a song which was recorded completely live at Lower Lane Studios, and was quite literally the 14th take of the song, and the one they were most content with.
Disarray and Visions encompass everything the band stand for and signals the path they are trying to carve for themselves across the UK’s live music circuit. During the recording of the five track EP, the band made a conscious effort to separate themselves from the production expected of them, instead of doubling down into the means of Deftones inspired production, the four-piece wanted to embrace and capture what they sound like live, taking inspiration from the likes of the late Steve Albini, as well as one of their biggest influences, HUM.
Lower Lane Studios epic duo Sam Bloor and Jonny Price, fresh off the back of producing the award winning debut album A Mind Waiting To Die by Graphic Nature, which bagged Best Breakthrough Album at the recent Heavy Music Awards, are to see another fine piece of work drop with This Place I’m Forgetting, Replaced With An Ending, MERCURY’s debut EP, which follows two strongly received double A’s in the form of Spring ’23 and Summer ’23. Most noteable from MERCURY’s youthful catalogue is After, which itself has racked up over 150,000 plays on Spotify, and tells a tale of the band’s potential, though it is Gradient which comes out on top from MERCURY’s previous singles, being the only one to make the grade and find itself in the debut EP.
The energetic, heavy riff and melody hits hard from the off, with Jacob Ward’s soft, droning vocals gliding through the verses with ease. Dean Boon and Ike Reed really tap into their synchronicity on drums and bass respectively, joining guitarist Harvey Magher to splice time signatures effortlessly. Finale track Honesty evokes feelings of teenage angst and regret tinged with the joys of living in the moment, with backing vocals really expanding the reach of the song.
Any imperfections you may find buried deep within this record are not mere coincidence, more so the band’s very explicit decision to take the production down a route of recreating the authentic vibe and tone of the songs from the places they found their birth; the practise room and the stage, a feat they have achieved completely and (im)perfectly.
You need to listen to this EP. It’s really that simple. MERCURY are but two years old as musical ensemble, and yet already they have produced some incredible music, performed outstanding live sets (nod to Outbreak 2023) and supported some massive names (think Static Dress, Jesus Piece, World Of Pleasure, Cloakroom). Consider this your final call to find a great new band while they are still fitting into them beloved DIY hardcore venues.