The Mammoths - “Blank Stare”
The Mammoths have made a catchy and soulful banger with their new song, “Blank Stare.” The band, from Austin, Texas, kick us off with an awesome bass line, laid down by Tyler Rush– heavy, but never growling. The listener will be drawn in by the song’s enticing pads of reverberated noises, which never truly evolve into a soundscape, but are used to highlight different elements of Michael Jekot’s lead guitar as the song progresses– and these almost-tremolo sounds are wonderfully creative. Then, a distorted, edgy riff rolls in between quick rhythm guitar hits, Tim Durand’s drums cheerfully snap at an andante tempo. Vocalist David Kapsner then gives us what we have been waiting for, with his gorgeous, bluesy/Americana vocal performance.
The lyrics are also ridiculously catchy, especially over the chorus section. The chorus of this song, which, for me, has a more West Coast vibe, is one of the things that really grabs you. Even with this deviation, it blends in nicely with the verses. An extremely large and gloomy sound is produced by the rhythmic change at the finish. I hear soundscapes that remind me of the sound Noel Gallagher created on his song, “The Man Who Built the Moon.” The song then dissipates into a psychedelic noise that fades.
And, of course, “Blank Stare” is also available on Spotify, where you will find a hefty selection of The Mammoths’ other releases, including 2021’s full length, Lonely Roller: