Captain Mantis rev up a timeless Rock engine on EP, "Vice Market"
From the first crack of the snare to the last lingering guitar chord, Vice Market cements Captain Mantis as a band with a rare combination of reverence for rock’s golden eras and the confidence to twist it into something entirely their own. Across its four tracks, the Monterrey, Mexico-based quartet prove they can channel the swagger of ‘70s hard rock, the lush intimacy of a ballad, the tight rhythmic snap of Latin-infused grooves, and the allure of classic pop melodies, all while having a blast doing it.
It helps that their influences are worn like badges of honor. You can hear the grit of Tony Iommi in the riff work, the syncopated funk of Parliament in the basslines, and the melodic sophistication of the Beatles in their chord choices and harmonies. But instead of that screams “rip off”, they deliver something organic, the result of years of friendship and a shared passion for exploring every corner of rock’s landscape.
The EP’s opener “Moonshine Alley” bursts out of the gate with the kind of punch that makes you instinctively turn the volume up. It’s loud, energetic, and unashamedly catchy, the guitars locking in tight with Charly “El Pulpo” Lowry’s crisp, driving drumming. From there, the band swerves sharply into more delicate territory, revealing their knack for restraint and atmosphere on “Simon Frost”. The ballad at the record’s core is a stunner, with Pato Sepúlveda’s guitar lines weaving through these lovely textures. The production from Paco Lazo and Andrés Lavalle keeps every note crystalline yet warm, giving the track a cinematic sweep without losing intimacy.
Ignacio Alvarez’s bassline are a masterclass in groove creating playful, insistent, and impossible not to move to moments, all the while Checo Ruizesparza’s vocals glide effortlessly from silky smooth to raw and impassioned. Really, the entirety of the record is creating these moments that beg you to come back for more!
Even as each song inhabits its own world, the band’s chemistry and shared instincts hold everything together. The EP feels less like a collection of disparate ideas and more like a perfectly sequenced short film.
This is the sound of four friends who know exactly what they’re doing, but play like they’re discovering it all for the first time. It’s vintage in spirit, modern in execution, and endlessly replayable. We simply cannot wait for you to take a moment to give this one a spin. We’ve included all the links below to enjoy, follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more.
Like what you read? Follow our social media and playlist for the latest in independent music:
Band Pictures by Tebah Gonzalez
Cover Art by Steven Arziamendi