Last year, it was near-impossible not to notice the massive success of MOON SHOT‘s sophomore album “The Power.” Then again, the whole endeavor was sort of destined to stand out; first, it was co-produced by the band’s primus motor, guitarist Jussi Ylikoski, with class-A Finnish rock producer Julius Mauranen, and Grammy winner David Bottrill, who is best known for working with TOOL, MUSE, PLACEBO, and SMASHING PUMPKINS; second, this band is not exactly a bunch of spring chickens – the band members have all had hefty careers in bands such as CHILDREN OF BODOM, DISCO ENSEMBLE, and LAPKO. Now, the band offers us a nice in-between treat while we wait for their third full-length – a 4-track EP entitled “Broken Bones,” set for release on April 4th, 2025, via Reaper Entertainment. These four new songs pick up where “The Power” left off, capturing the essence of the band’s different sides: positive aggression loaded with the humane themes of resilience, connection, and the imperfect beauty of the human experience overall. The songs dash out like a rock’n’roll bullet train packed with punchy riffs, poignant melodies, and emotion.
The EP opens with its title track, and within the first 15 seconds or so, you will be thrown back in time by some 30 years. Even though the production is way too modern for a late-1990s throwback, the music resonates with the aura of those revered alternative-rock and indie acts of the era. Not even vocalist Ville Malja‘s signature crooning that oozes strong LAPKO vibes manages to dissolve that late-1990s vibe. I’m not complaining, though, quite the opposite; that particular decade happens to be one of my favorite eras when it comes to music. Back then, bands focused on writing killer songs instead of honing the finer nuances of their TikTok presence and whatnot. MOON SHOT is not even trying to hide it – their band profile on the label’s website says it all: “Even at the threat of cliche we’re gonna say it like it is: this is genuine rock music from the heart built on all the melodic loudness we grew up with.” If you also grew up with that particular type of loudness, all the better. The lyrics in the opener even throw a sly reference to PLACEBO. Nice!
The 1990s-tinted indie-rock aura only thickens the deeper you dive into the EP. “Paratruth” resonates with an almost vintage MANIC STREET PREACHERS-like air, especially in the chorus – and just like those Welsh indie-rockers had a habit of doing back in the day, this song tugs at your heartstrings pretty damn soon. After a few spins, it’s hard to make up my mind whether this song is the absolute highlight of the selection, because I’m kind of torn between this one and the haunting closer.
So, “Black Tear” suffers a bit from being sandwiched between the two soaring peaks of the EP. Don’t get me wrong, the song is a nice melancholy rocker, but it is no match for either of these two bangers. You see, the closer, entitled “Cradle,” is another heart-wrenching beast, recalling the haunting melancholy of LAPKO‘s breakthrough song from 2007, here and there. It’s almost as if the youthful melancholy of “Killer Whales” had gained deeper layers over the years, so that now, when the song’s plaintive lyrics hit you, they hit you pretty hard. I feel compelled to quote the band’s website, “Where once there was posturing, now it’s about showing you burns, cuts, and fragility. Being honest!” For once, the marketing slogans are spot on! What a great gut-punch of a song!
Yeah, this is ”just” an EP release, but it doesn’t really pale in comparison with some of the timeless classics from yesteryear – the emotional monoliths, such as “Everything Must Go” by MANIC STREET PREACHERS or “Without You I’m Nothing” by PLACEBO. I guess this suggests that whatever the band is contemplating releasing in the future as their third studio album, it will be something absolutely great.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Broken Bones
- Paratruth
- Black Tear
- Cradle
Lineup
Ville Malja – vocals
Jussi Ylikoski – guitars
Henkka Seppälä – bass
Mikko Hakila – drums
Label
Reaper Entertainment
Links
https://www.moonshotofficial.com
