THE MOLLUSKS
I’m a Lake Michigan photographer and a lifetime resident of the west shore, so when The Mollusks defined themselves as “Beach-Goth” I was immediately intrigued. Personally? I think they really deliver on that label. You’ll also see “Aggressive Post-Punk” in their IG description–a label that peppers itself in nicely from time to time.
Bringing in the hall reverb and synth straight away, The Mollusks are reminiscent of bands like Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen with added dark, surfy vibes. Doran (guitar/vocals/keyboards) with his rapid vibrato even reminds me a bit of Biafra, and perhaps there is a little DK influence hanging out in the music as well–that yummy place where dark surf meets punk. Mickey (bass and vocals) and Jamie (drums) do a great job of supporting the overall sound and I enjoy the way they collide to deliver some of the more driving, chonkier riffs like the opener in “Prima Donna” (as well as the Black Francis-esque guitar leads later in the song.) And you can definitely count on the Mollusks to wrap things up before you could ever think about being bored! (A+ on knowing the right time to end a song.)
The Sun and The Moon || The Mollusks || August 2023
Speaking of brevity, as I streamed The Sun and the Moon, released in August of 2023, in its entirety for the first time, I noticed that the vocals are sporadic and tastefully placed. Kudos to the group for being succinct, because I believe that negative vocal space is often underrated, particularly in this genre. I also appreciate their overall variety in tempo and flavor while keeping things aesthetically reigned in.
For me, The Mollusks deliver nostalgia and thought-provoking jams in between some feel-good melodies, though I appreciate that their actual message isn’t as neutral as the bands of the distant past who they may sound a bit like–I see them promoting inclusivity, DIY culture and supporting other artists, which I love. Additionally, the trio brings a little weird spice to the table. Something you can’t quite put your finger on, and that’s a good thing.
<3 Channy (HOYS Fest Producer)
Experience The Mollusks live at Heart on Your Sleeve Fest on February 10th, 2024! Tickets will be available at a discounted rate on Black Friday 2023. Stay tuned for more updates!
Make sure to listen to the Mollusks on Bandcamp and stream them on Spotify. Also find them on Facebook and Instagram!
#HOYSfest #HeartOnYourSleeveFest #BringBackTheHallShow