MAL – Madness As Lift (2023)
Touching on every flavour of rock from grunge to alternative rock to hard rock and even some post-punk, MAL is a trio which falls under that all-encompassing label ‘rock’ but still has no definition whatsoever. Reaching the masses for just over a decade now, this unique group reach from the bowels of Van Nuys, California dragging people to their mire of musical madness – or perhaps they come out of the dark corners for a few moments to bring the raw art of rock to audiences. With confident performances, Kristopher Jung (vocals and guitar), Peter Hollywood (bass) and Brendan Reynolds (drums) have opened for Alien Ant Form, VOLTO in The Mint, SAUL, Andrew W. Boss, Boy Hits Car, and showcased for the KROQ Locals Only Show at The Roxy. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Madness As Lift’.
On the heels of their singles ‘Hero’s Gold’ and ‘Besides’, ‘Madness As Lift’ is the June instalment of their “releasing a single per month as a build-up to their album in August 2023”. It is the fourth single from MAL this year and one of the tracks from the highly anticipated COME TO LIGHT.
Dipping their toes into grunge meets stoner rock slice of insanity, listening to ‘Madness As Life’ is as uncomfortable and disconcerting as it is intriguingly sublime. Unique and eclectic, listening to the single is like slipping down a metal tube that becomes slimmer and slimmer with every inch. The gruff surroundings scratch your knees and arms as you fall down the tapering cylinder. Breath becomes short, a need to scream increases, and you lose yourself in the alien nature of the mad single. Interestingly, while there is a dysfunctional obscurity, it is one of the most captivating songs I have heard in a long time.
Just as the melody can intoxicate you, the lyricism is profound and have you contemplating each sensation. MAL explain that “’Madness As Lift’ is a reflection of the world we live in. With all of its darkness and lunacy, life is still what one makes of it. We as artists realise just how fine the line is between dedicating oneself to the fringe ideas of some cult or to the never-ending flow of music in our heads and bandmates. Similarly, we choose to let the madness lift us.”
So, how is my reflection of humanity captured in ‘Madness As Lift’? Is it a constant falling into a mire of despair or is there an out at the end of the tube? Exploding into a blast of frenzied angst and brutal raw vulnerability, MAL takes us from an insatiable fear to a controlled joy in ‘Madness As Lift’ – at least, that’s my opinion.
For more from MAL, check out their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
