Merwulf – The Mountain Lion

The modern alternative rock scene has thrived in recent years, with many excellent artists and bands releasing music that could easily pair with something renowned acts have released decades ago. However, sometimes it seems like the scene has nothing more to offer due to all those music outlets mimicking the big names of the genres. Usually, they all decide to go the safe route without even trying to experiment and deliver something completely new. Thankfully, there are bands like Merwulf who do quite the opposite. With “The Mountain Lion,” their latest standalone single released on April 3rd, this Portland-based trio breaks all the rules and shapeshifts boundaries of the alternative, offering a fresh, unique, innovative take on the genre. Now, perhaps alternative rock shines in the mix, as these skillful musicians incorporated all the fundamental elements of the genre from scratch to finish, but do not be surprised if you stumble upon some of the finest properties borrowed from post-punk, noise rock, indie rock, and many other similar subgenres. The trio uses all these additonal elements as more than necessary enhancements, accentuations, decorations, and other details to uplift this composition to an entirely new level while simultaneously remaining loyal to the primary sonic direction. By using a mountain lion in the sand dunes as a metaphor for longing, fear, and surrender, Merwulf copes with grief and explores the hardships of life.

Unlike other bands on the alternative rock scene who take a deep dive into heavy riffs and groovy beats, Merwulf soulfully, thoughtfully, and wisely explores the other side of the sonic spectrum by delivering calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, and nearly psychedelic ambiance. It’s one of those songs where these experienced musicians aimed for each drum beat, bassline, chord progression, and vocal harmony to be felt, but not through layers of heavy distortion, but through wise, articulate, percussive sonic and rhyhtmic maneuvers. It’s a road musicians rarely go these days, so it arrives as a refreshment in a vast desert of the same, repetitive, bland alternative rock songs. The band is here to bring a perfect backdrop for those deep lyrics, and they’re doing it with precision and finesse. You’ll immediately notice how the rhythm section cleverly articulates throughout the entire song. All those tastefully assembled, flawlessly performed, well-accentuated beats, breaks, fills, and accentuations have almost a jazzy feel, dictating groove and pace while keeping the remainder of the band in line. Each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splash over the cymbals has its place and purpose, adding more detail, soul, and complexity to this marvelous composition. In this case, the bass also acts as an electric guitar, simultaneously delivering raw, abrasive, tastefully distorted low-end notes that expertly fulfill the ambiance. The bass guitar plays a significant role, as it adds more heaviness, clarity, and depth while offering the main riff and serving as a binding element between the drums and keys.

The synths and keys are like a cherry on top. You’ll immediately notice all those themes, leads, melodies, and other sonic maneuvers, serving as a counterweight to all the heaviness delivered through bass and drums. This significant instrument is not only responsible for all the melody and harmony, but for giving more depth and ambiance to the song. And of course, this composition wouldn’t be complete without the outstanding vocal performance, which in this case serves as the centerpiece of the song. The soulful, passionate, emotive, sincere, confident, and powerful vocal performance elevates everything to new heights, commands attention, and guides listeners on this epic journey. Every harmony seamlessly blends with low, mid, and high notes with such precision and finesse, decorating all the segments and instrumentation. It also contributes more than necessary emotional depth and complexity over an already intricate structure, making “The Mountain Lion” a fascinating musical experience worth revisiting again. By breaking all the rules of the genre, Merwulf demonstrates how alternative rock and post-punk, when done right, can still sound fresh, unique, innovative, and exciting, just like the first time you’ve heard it on the radio. It’s a soulful and meaningful masterpiece that demands your utmost attention, so head to your favorite streaming platform and check out this one-of-a-kind song.