Mark Vennis & Different Place – Goodbye To All That

It’s not a secret that Mark Vennis & Different Place are one of the most prolific bands on the contemporary music scene. With their critically acclaimed full-length, “Small Town Empire,” they proved how rock music can still sound exciting, innovative, fresh, and unique, while simultaneously incorporating all those traditional elements that made this genre famous in the first place. It’s not an easy feat considering there are many bands out there trying exactly the same thing, but it seems like Mark Vennis & Different Place are writing, composing, arranging, and producing their songs with such ease, far away from any pressure that usually comes with the songwriting process. “Goodbye To All That,” their brand-new album released via streaming platforms today, proves that their songwriting prowess and creative streak are not just a case of pure luck. Quite the contrary, this band ages like a fine wine, and you can clearly see how their songwriting, composing, arranging, producing, and other abilities evolve, showcasing a natural progression of an already fascinating band. What makes “Goodbye To All That” is a fine blend of styles included along the way. Besides all the fundamental elements of rock music included in each composition, you’ll also notice how some of the finest properties of indie rock, classic punk rock, classic rock, and rock ‘n ‘roll found their way into this epic sonic equation. But even heavy weaponry in their arsenal, this material resonates with calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal sonic maneuvers while the main power and groove come from a rock-solid rhythm section. This balance between melody and power is another standout feature that makes “Goodbye To All That” such an incredible piece of material that will immediately resonate not only with rock fans but also with anyone who appreciates clever songwriting and flawless musical performance.

It’s nearly mindblowing how each composition resonates with such a unique ambiance, but altogether, these tracks represent a cohesive whole. For example, “The Beating Of The Drum” shines with only the finest properties of classic rock, while “This Nation’s Ghosts” dives deep into the fundamentals of indie music. “Empire Road” blends soul, rock, garage, and indie together in such a distinctive way, “All Points South” evokes some of the finest moments of seventies folk rock, “Goodbye To All Of That” carries a generous amount of psych, blues rock, and classic rock, “There Is No Way Back” follows nearly the same atmosphere but with the instrumentals shining over vocals, and “The Trader” brings back that irresistible soulful, bluesy, folk rock that suits this band so good. “An English Tragedy” brings back all those reverby, arpeggiated chord progressions and well-accentuated rhythmic patterns, a main characteristic of indie, blues, and groovy rock. “Crawling Through The Woods” delivers a subtly southern folk rock vibe, and this variation suits Mark Vennis & Different Place so well, demonstrating their knack for delivering soulful, emotional, sincere folk songs. These are the moments when the band continues at nearly the same pace, but with more jangly, subtly distorted guitars. “Just Another Campaign” vividly showcases the interplay between those jangly guitars and palm-muted riffs, nice details that work to the advantage of this track. “Golden Country” and “Requiem” serve as a perfect closure of this fine piece of sonic artistry, exemplifying Mark Vennis & Different Place’s incredible sound. What makes this material so fascinating is how all those elements work together without spoiling the already established sound of the band. Sure, there are many innovations, embellishments, accentuations, tiny nuances, and experimentations, but you’ll still get the feel that you’re listening to another brilliant Mark Vennis & Different Place album. In all these details lies the power of these experienced musicians, who not only delivered another masterpiece but demonstrated how rock music, when done right, can still sound fresh, like when you heard it on the radio for the first time.

Mark Vennis’ voice sounds better than ever. His vocal delivery carries all the depth, heart, and soul of socio-political lyrics. With each composition, he shines in the limelight, commands attention, elevates everything to new heights, and guides listeners on this epic sonic journey. The guitars build the entire soundscape that immensely supports Mark’s vocal performance. From clean, jangly, reverby, arpeggiated chord progressions to palm-muted and tastefully distorted riffs, you can hear that each guitar section is crafted with precision and finesse. The layers of themes, melodies, harmonies, and other sonic maneuvers arrive over the top, making this subtly complex yet easy-listening material. Beneath all the vocal lines and guitar works, there are equally impressive basslines that not only contribute groove and depth but also act as a glue between instrumentations and drums. Speaking of the drums, this album wouldn’t be complete without all those marvelous beats, breaks, fills, accentuations, and other percussive acrobatics. Each instrument has its place and purpose here, proving that Mark Vennis & Different Place thought about everything while crafting this incredible album. If you need a wonderful, innovative, fascinating rock album that will impress you on all possible levels, then you need to spin “Goodbye To All That” as soon as possible. With a comprehensive collection of catchy, memorable, engaging songs that pack emotion, intelligent lyricism, brilliant ideas, and outstanding musicianship, Mark Vennis & Different Place will immediately become your go-to band whenever you need exceptional rock music. Therefore, head to your favorite streaming platform and check “Goodbye To All That” now.