anything but normal, mt. eddy track by track

If you don’t know about Mt. Eddy, you’re missing out. This group of East Bay alt-punks is making some seriously good music. Composed of Jakob Armstrong (vocals, rhythm guitar), Enzo Malaspina (lead guitar), Chris Malaspina (drums), and Kevin Judd (bass, backup vocals), Mt Eddy is a band that refuses to be anything but normal. On March 13th, Mt. Eddy released a new self-titled EP, composed of three wonderfully fun and edgy songs! Here’s my take on the new tracks. The first track on this EP is "Zombie," starting off the trio with a punch of high energy. Right when the song starts, you’re hit with a combination of bright guitars, echoing out chords that hold the familiarity of vintage surf rock. Then, the solid rhythm section kicks in—thanks Chris— backing up the guitars and bass with an energetic and persistent beat. Right from the beginning of this song, it became clear that Mt. Eddy had majorly stepped up their game. Finally, the vocals show up. The first line of the song floats in, with a little something new—harmonies! The harmonies in this song are incredible! Jakob’s dominant voice is complemented perfectly by Kevin’s higher notes, creating a really cool and mellow vibe for this song. The chorus of "Zombie" hits with a powerful punch of pop and punk. With slick, dreamy chords that meld together perfectly. But what really sets this song apart is the bridge. It comes out of nowhere with an acoustic sound. Mellowed out guitar riffs pair wonderfully with a light tapping of the drum kit. The breakdown of "Zombie" is everything that I didn’t know I needed. The song concludes with a dramatic climax of a capella harmonies with some of my favorite lines from the song: “And I know it’s hard to notice but I am really dead/And your exploding heart is like a gun against my head.” This thrusts back into the chorus, repeating several more times until the song comes to a satisfying end. Next up on the EP is the song “I Luv Robert Smith,” which sparked my interest right away. When the song picks up, you’re greeted with a series of short chords bopping one after the other, all backed by a peppy drum beat. Immediately, I wanted to jump out of my seat and dance. After the bass-punctuated bridge comes a small build up into the chorus, which is one of my favorite moments on the track. It features a bright, zingy guitar solo, notes plucked out one by one in an enticing rhythm that just begs to be completed by the chorus. Sure enough, the chorus bursts in full-force with the lyrics “Sad boy/She hates my voice, but I don’t have a choice/Robert Smith was right.” The song explodes into a fast-paced anthem that would be perfect for any bedroom dance party or windows-down drive down the freeway. After another verse, the chorus comes back in, this time in a more toned down sense, just drums and short, snappy guitar chords. After that brief intermission, the final chorus erupts into a beautiful symphony, ending off the song with a final vicious strum of the guitar, echoing out with the fade of the track. The final number on the Mt. Eddy EP is entitled “Menial.” I first heard this song as a shy acoustic demo on Jakob’s SoundCloud, and it sounded very promising. The final version of the song was just the upgrade that the EP needed. What I love so much about Mt. Eddy is how they layer a variety of guitar tracks in their songs. This creates so much more depth and complexity, and makes for an amazingly unique sound! ”Menial” hits the nail right on the head. Right when the song starts, a sharp, repetitive guitar note punctuates the track. This high-strung sequence carries out over the bass line for a few seconds. Then, the layering begins. An opposing guitar sequence enters, another string of notes perfectly complementing the latter, building up the tension in the song. Finally, the drum beat kicks in, and all instruments meld together into a wonderfully spunky whirlwind. The intro is tied off perfectly by a solid rip through of a power chord. We then get launched into the first verse. The lyrics "Ready for commotion/I think I’m ready for this high,” start off the song, quickly setting an excited and slightly mischievous tone. "Menial" perfectly captures what it's like to be young and crazy, what it's like to make mistakes and try new things. The adventurous and reminiscent feel is exemplified throughout the lyrics, such as, “That’s right, you’re right/We drank too much last night/Slow dive, feet first/What’s worse than fucked up firsts?” "Menial" proves that a song can be just as driven by rhythm as it is by lyrics. Dreamy 60's-inspired rock chords glide in for the bridge. The chorus then comes in, opened by a blast of descending power chords, energetically barreling the song right into the main section. The zingy high notes work wonderfully with the solid, punctuating accents on the bass line, creating yet another wonderful song to dance to. After the chorus, there's a small zippy guitar solo, acting as a breaking point for the song. Placed on top of a killer drum pattern, this segment adds a wonderful boost of energy. The track then falls back into the chorus, repeating a few more times before fading off, signifying the end of the EP. Mt. Eddy didn't come to play on this EP; they came to rock. Chalked full with energy, attitude, and youthful spirit, these three tracks are all absolute bangers. The relatable lyrics, mesmerizing guitar segments, punctuating bass lines, and spunky drum patterns all come together to create such a unique sound that only Mt. Eddy can produce. If you haven't already listened to this EP, what are you doing? And while you're at it, check out Mt. Eddy's debut album, "Chroma," which is also spectacular. So, go plug in some earbuds, crank up the volume, and enjoy! You can thank me later.

words by nikki, photo by erin