Irish trio Mindgroan transport us back to the 90s with fuzzy guitars and encapsulating vocals in a filthy grunge sound that they describe as “gritty, raw and passionate.”
The trio of Liam, Ciaran and Eoin went to the same high school in Drogheda and formed at the end of 2024, which prompted their lead singer to drop out of school. But they knew they had a musical connection since their first practice session.
And, on the sound they’ve crafted, they told us: “We would describe our sound to be the classic raw, grungy style but also meaningful and poetic. All of our songs, recorded or unreleased, have great meaning to us all.”
Our first taste of this is the band’s debut EP Ripple, which was released last month. From it, the band sent us the gritty opening track Canvas, which immediately picks us up from our seat and drops us into 90s Seattle with a filthy, fuzzy guitar riff over driving drums. Engaging, echoey vocals come in over the top, before a cool stabbing riff supports cries of “Feel, make it real.” The energy flows into a lively second verse, which ends with a cheeky little guitar solo, before the chunky opening riff returns and continues into another big verse and a final blast of the chorus brings the track to an energetic conclusion.
On the track, the band said: “The release of our EP Ripple has been absolutely amazing. Canvas has always been a fan favorite song, so it was so rewarding to see it climb in listeners day after day. The reception for all the EP has been mental, as we gained almost 4,000 listeners in the first month of its release! For anyone who has not heard Canvas yet, expect gritty, raw vocals with pounding drums, powerful bass and an unforgettable guitar tone.”
The rest of the EP flirts between grunginess and indie elements. That includes the lively Eye to Eye, which features a funky little bass solo and Stone Roses vibes, halfway through, the more laid-back Hush and Gunned Down, and the moody final track Ripple.
The Mindgroan sound draws influence from grunge legends like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and the Stone Temple Pilots, as well as more modern bands like Wunderhorse and Fontaines D.C.
And on what inspires theirmusic, they explain: “Something that influences us to write music is real-world topics like the war in Gaza or social injustices. But the songs usually form themselves, starting with a catchy guitar lick that all 3 of us like, and snowballing from there.”
There’s plenty more to come from Mindgroan, starting with a mini tour of Ireland’s East Coast in the next few weeks, followed by more singles in the works.
And the band added: “We really think that we have zeroed in on our sound with our recent songs, and we are so excited to share them! If there was something we wanted people to know about us, it’s that Mindgroan stands for equality and peace!”
You can follow Mindgroan on Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
GigRadar 
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