It’s almost over, but the last great release of 2005 is here and it’s by far and away the best. The Mercury League have pulled the rabbit out of the hat and come up with one of the finest collections of melodic hardcore to have come out of this (or indeed any) country in recent memory and the best thing about it is that that statement contains not a trace of unnecessary hyperbole.
TML have used Kid Dynamite‘s brutal speed, Rise Against‘s knack of turning out huge choruses and their own inimitable charm to produce these eight glorious tracks. As the opening barrage of ‘An Issue of Ability’ burns out in little over half a minute it becomes clear that just like the Terminator, these lads simply will not stop until they’ve done everything in their power to blow you away. Musically ‘La Libertad…’ is practically faultless. The constant and consistent display of drumming excellence is no mere technical exercise, more a demonstration of the perfect rhythm section alongside the ever-solid bass playing. Beats and thuds are locked together, creating a meaty backing that drives ‘From The Construction’ to a genuinely exciting climax. And the guitars…with pure kinetic energy and enthusiasm TML’s riffmasters general have come up with a serious rival to A Wilhelm Scream‘s throne.
But all of these would be minor details if the songs weren’t up to scratch. How pleasing it is, then, to report that every note on ‘La Libertad…’ is a pearler. The re-recorded versions of ‘Questioning Your Reasons’ and ‘Cracking Codes’ show the development from demo tracks to fully-fledged anthems, while ‘A Little Guilt Goes A Long Way’ is the perfect marriage of soaring melodies and punishing riffs. The sheer dynamism of the entire album is an example to all other bands – if you can’t imbue your songs with this much intensity and passion then maybe you’re in the wrong game. The Mercury League have struck gold because they do the simplest thing in the world – playing music they love – with all the life they can muster. By the end of the album the overriding feeling is one of elation, elation that you’ve been put through the wringer and come out the other side. And then silence…a strange, calming mirage before a treat: a re-recorded version of ‘Raise The Bar’ that is so powerful it makes you feel you can walk through burning walls. This one song sums up the appeal of TML – inventive, punchy, catchy, essential.
So it’s the best release of 2005 because of its utter brilliance. The UK finally has a band that could go down as true legends of melodic hardcore because not only do they assimilate all their influences, but they churn them up and spit them out in a unique style. TML could be huge if they aim high enough, and hopefully they’ll soon be showing the Americans how to do it.
Ben
www.themercuryleague.co.uk