Meansteed - Cabin Fever
We featured Meansteed a while back, so when they dropped us a note about their spanking new EP, Cabin Fever, I figured it was only right I check out what they had been up to since we last caught up with them.
Opening with Idiot Without A Cause we’re led into the track with a funky bass line before the equally funky guitars take the lead. Continuing to keep their sound verging on the old school world of rock, there’s the signature sound of Meansteed throughout this opening track, throwing down catchy hooks and vocals which are going to get you roaring along with them. Keeping the music firmly dialled into the groove orientated riffs, this is music which is going to get you moving and shifting along with the band, the music telling a story which pulls you along and keeps you wanting to hear more. I would challenge anyone not to sing along with this track after a couple of listens – it’s got that catchy feeling which makes you want to hear more, makes you sing along and makes you get out to see these guys on the live scene.
Ten Ton Tantrum continues the funky approach, this time forming the track over a sludgy bass line and pounding drumline, straight away getting down to business and pulling you in to take note of the bands prowess. Once again, the show stealer has to be the vocals for me, they just grab your attention and make you want to hear more and more. Couple this with a sludgy yet funky backing track and what you’ve got is a track which is going to convert everyone to this sound, it’s a great track. Add in a guitar solo for good measure and there is nothing left to whine about – Meansteed have done it all! Title track Cabin Fever comes up next and suddenly changes the approach of the album, cooling everything down a notch and leading into a chilled out Stone Temple Pilots style melee of guitars and bass, but not for long. Soon enough the drums signal a return to the tried and tested method that these guys are so good at producing and we’re returned to their distorted world. Producing another track which seems to ooze with grooves and funky guitar lines, there’s a real sense of good old rock n roll in this track, adding a further dimension to things, as if it were needed!
Closing with Weekend Warrior there’s one final chance to take note of why you need to get out to see these guys on the live scene, producing yet another rip-roaring journey through rock music. Powerful, distorted and funky – this final track shows off some more punk roots but once again manages to create a sound which is going to get you moving, shifting and singing along. The final moments of this track show why these guys are such a force to be reckoned with on the live scene – quite simply their music is made for the stage – definitely one to look out for!
I liked Meansteed when we first featured them on here, but these new tracks have shown that they’re off on a journey of discovery, continuing to develop their sound and hone their abilities. If you’re looking for a band that’s going to entertain you, give you some damned good rock music to rock out to and generally come to your town to sleep with your women, Meansteed is it….so get on it!
To find out more about Meansteed, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Idiot Without A Cause we’re led into the track with a funky bass line before the equally funky guitars take the lead. Continuing to keep their sound verging on the old school world of rock, there’s the signature sound of Meansteed throughout this opening track, throwing down catchy hooks and vocals which are going to get you roaring along with them. Keeping the music firmly dialled into the groove orientated riffs, this is music which is going to get you moving and shifting along with the band, the music telling a story which pulls you along and keeps you wanting to hear more. I would challenge anyone not to sing along with this track after a couple of listens – it’s got that catchy feeling which makes you want to hear more, makes you sing along and makes you get out to see these guys on the live scene.
Ten Ton Tantrum continues the funky approach, this time forming the track over a sludgy bass line and pounding drumline, straight away getting down to business and pulling you in to take note of the bands prowess. Once again, the show stealer has to be the vocals for me, they just grab your attention and make you want to hear more and more. Couple this with a sludgy yet funky backing track and what you’ve got is a track which is going to convert everyone to this sound, it’s a great track. Add in a guitar solo for good measure and there is nothing left to whine about – Meansteed have done it all! Title track Cabin Fever comes up next and suddenly changes the approach of the album, cooling everything down a notch and leading into a chilled out Stone Temple Pilots style melee of guitars and bass, but not for long. Soon enough the drums signal a return to the tried and tested method that these guys are so good at producing and we’re returned to their distorted world. Producing another track which seems to ooze with grooves and funky guitar lines, there’s a real sense of good old rock n roll in this track, adding a further dimension to things, as if it were needed!
Closing with Weekend Warrior there’s one final chance to take note of why you need to get out to see these guys on the live scene, producing yet another rip-roaring journey through rock music. Powerful, distorted and funky – this final track shows off some more punk roots but once again manages to create a sound which is going to get you moving, shifting and singing along. The final moments of this track show why these guys are such a force to be reckoned with on the live scene – quite simply their music is made for the stage – definitely one to look out for!
I liked Meansteed when we first featured them on here, but these new tracks have shown that they’re off on a journey of discovery, continuing to develop their sound and hone their abilities. If you’re looking for a band that’s going to entertain you, give you some damned good rock music to rock out to and generally come to your town to sleep with your women, Meansteed is it….so get on it!
To find out more about Meansteed, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Meansteed
Hard Rock N Roll band Meansteed from London recently got in touch about their music to see what we could sort out for them. Having sorted things out at this end, I sat down to have a listen to see what they’ve got!
Engage The Rage sets the bar high straight off, opening with a solid rock riff and pounding drum beat, the vocals taking on a raw edge and powering the track into being. Kicking into a catchy chorus chanting ‘engage the rage’, soon enough you’ll find yourself chanting along with the band. Keeping things pumping onwards, the bass is kept nice and high in the mix so you can hear all of the instruments working together, the result being a track which is relatively simple but works on an epic scale. As if to prove a point, a short solo is chucked into the mix ¾ of the way through the track which leaves you with no doubt that this is a band who must kill on the live scene – and this is just the first track!
Devil In Me continues things in pretty much the same vein, opening with a powerful riff and pounding drum before kicking into a more rock based beat. The vocals are once again chanted over the music, remaining raw so you can imagine that you’re hearing exactly what the band want you to hear. Once again the chorus is catchy and will get you chanting along with ‘the devil in me’ before too long. There’s something really cool about this music, I think it’s the simplicity of what they’re doing which works so well, no frills or complications just downright dirty rock n roll! As Make A Stand kicks in though, things take on a far funkier edge, the guitars making you want to move along with them. Opening with a question as to whether you’ve been told rock n roll is dead, well sir, I think you’ve proven that right here and now it’s very much still alive. This track is a pure rock track, one which makes you move, makes you want to dance, makes you want to be at a venue watching these guys perform, quality stuff.
Young Guns follows on, opening with some roaring vocals before kicking in with the guitar and drums momentarily. Repeating this process a couple of times, this track seems to build up, you’re kept waiting for what’s to come, you know it’s going to happen sooner or later but it’ll happen when the band are ready. With a cry of ‘it was Billy the kid’ it kicks in, fast, raw and pacing onwards over a rolling drum beat. Keeping the guitars on the in and out, the effect is a funky track akin to older rock tracks yet somehow it sounds fresh and new. This is probably my favourite track from the selection here, it’s just fun to listen to – and one I want to see live for sure!
Final track Hellride closes things in perfect style, opening with a funky guitar riff over those powerful drums before descending into a sludgy dirty chunky section for the main vocals to kick in over. Another catchy chorus greets you which will have you chanting ‘hell ride’ along with them before kicking back into the riff once more. The track ends the selection in much the same way as it began, fast, heavy and rockin’ right up until the final second.
I imagine Meansteed to be an awesome live band, and from my personal perspective I think they’ve managed to capture the essence of their live show here in their tracks. The result here are tracks which are well produced yet energetic, full on and damned good fun. I’m going to have to get out there and check these guys out just to make sure I’ve got it right, but for now make sure you check them out as you will not be left wondering why!
To find out more about Meansteed, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Engage The Rage sets the bar high straight off, opening with a solid rock riff and pounding drum beat, the vocals taking on a raw edge and powering the track into being. Kicking into a catchy chorus chanting ‘engage the rage’, soon enough you’ll find yourself chanting along with the band. Keeping things pumping onwards, the bass is kept nice and high in the mix so you can hear all of the instruments working together, the result being a track which is relatively simple but works on an epic scale. As if to prove a point, a short solo is chucked into the mix ¾ of the way through the track which leaves you with no doubt that this is a band who must kill on the live scene – and this is just the first track!
Devil In Me continues things in pretty much the same vein, opening with a powerful riff and pounding drum before kicking into a more rock based beat. The vocals are once again chanted over the music, remaining raw so you can imagine that you’re hearing exactly what the band want you to hear. Once again the chorus is catchy and will get you chanting along with ‘the devil in me’ before too long. There’s something really cool about this music, I think it’s the simplicity of what they’re doing which works so well, no frills or complications just downright dirty rock n roll! As Make A Stand kicks in though, things take on a far funkier edge, the guitars making you want to move along with them. Opening with a question as to whether you’ve been told rock n roll is dead, well sir, I think you’ve proven that right here and now it’s very much still alive. This track is a pure rock track, one which makes you move, makes you want to dance, makes you want to be at a venue watching these guys perform, quality stuff.
Young Guns follows on, opening with some roaring vocals before kicking in with the guitar and drums momentarily. Repeating this process a couple of times, this track seems to build up, you’re kept waiting for what’s to come, you know it’s going to happen sooner or later but it’ll happen when the band are ready. With a cry of ‘it was Billy the kid’ it kicks in, fast, raw and pacing onwards over a rolling drum beat. Keeping the guitars on the in and out, the effect is a funky track akin to older rock tracks yet somehow it sounds fresh and new. This is probably my favourite track from the selection here, it’s just fun to listen to – and one I want to see live for sure!
Final track Hellride closes things in perfect style, opening with a funky guitar riff over those powerful drums before descending into a sludgy dirty chunky section for the main vocals to kick in over. Another catchy chorus greets you which will have you chanting ‘hell ride’ along with them before kicking back into the riff once more. The track ends the selection in much the same way as it began, fast, heavy and rockin’ right up until the final second.
I imagine Meansteed to be an awesome live band, and from my personal perspective I think they’ve managed to capture the essence of their live show here in their tracks. The result here are tracks which are well produced yet energetic, full on and damned good fun. I’m going to have to get out there and check these guys out just to make sure I’ve got it right, but for now make sure you check them out as you will not be left wondering why!
To find out more about Meansteed, check out their Facebook page HERE.