FOR FANS OF: Nirvana, The Vines, Van Halen
THE SESH by ZIG MENTALITY turns one year old today. It's an 5-track EP, their debut under their new name, as they were formerly named dubé.
ZIG MENTALITY are a rock band from Ottawa, Ontario consisting of Dubé brothers Jig (22) on lead vocals and bass, Liam (23) on guitar, and Quinn (20) on drums and backing vocals. They're young and extremely skilled - skills of which that show obviously on THE SESH.
Looking back at this EP in comparison to their newer releases, it's pretty extraordinary how far they've come in such a short amount of time. THE SESH is a literal entry to what ZIG MENTALITY's sound is fully formed today. THE SESH is a fuzz-filled, loud, bold punk-ish record, one reminiscent of Nirvana and The Vines. It's ZIG MENTALITY on the edge of leaving who they were behind and stepping into who they will become, a musical coming-of-age moment.
THE SESH starts with "Sesh On" which is so, SO good. The guitar playing on this track - as with the rest of the EP - is incendiary. It's very strong, and reminiscent of Van Halen riffs. "If You Ever" follows it, and that track sounds as fresh and exciting as the first time I heard it. If "Sesh On" didn't get enough of your attention, this track will.
The middle track of this EP is "Stoned Love," which is a mix between a ballad and a full mosh-pit inciting song. It starts off slow and steady and ends in a climax of sound — which is what the band refers to as a BMF, "The part of the song where the band kicks into max capacity instrumental riffing. All layers are activated. Sound spectrum is fully activated. This is what we call: Big Mother F***erness"
"Who Do You Work For" follows "Stoned Love," and it's loud & furious. It's a great transition into the very last song on the EP, "Pretty Girls On Bikes." "Pretty Girls On Bikes" is catchy & fun, and an instant ZIG MENTALITY classic.
I always end reviews by saying something along the lines of, "I love this artist, and I can't wait to see where they're going." With ZIG MENTALITY, I've seen where they've gone from THE SESH, and I'm both proud and in awe of them. THE SESH blew my mind, and their tracks that followed it - "Best Direction," "Triggered Emotion," "What Weighs On You," and "I&I" have all exceeded my expectations and more. ZIG MENTALITY know what they're doing, and what they're doing is making brilliant, honest, guitar-driven rock music. While THE SESH pales in comparison to their recent releases, it's still so fantastic, and I still feel as excited about it as I did from my very first listen. ZIG MENTALITY's sound today has grown and developed into something better than this EP. It's been amazing to have witnessed that development happen in real time. They're becoming a band who will unquestionably be one of the best bands of the 2020's, and I'm excited to see where else they will go with their music.
Happy birthday to THE SESH, an fantastic entry to the sky-shattering, face-melting music that ZIG MENTALITY make.
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