Of Mice & Men - Bringing The Thunder

Few hard rock albums are as intimate as the modern work of Of Mice and Men. While their songs have the rhythmic punch and anthemic bombast that thrills festival-goers, the confessional lyrics and haunting melodies are the heart of their work. The Southern California quartet took all creative matters into their own hands, producing all of the songs on Tether, their astonishing eighth album. Frontman Aaron Pauley mixed and mastered the album, while drummer Valentino Arteaga designed and painted the album's artwork.

Guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, Aaron and Tino, as expected by a legion of loyal listeners around the world, have put their heart and soul into every note, creating another sonic document of their lives.

"With this album, we didn't focus so much on how it sounds, but more on how it feels," Pauley explains. "And that's a weird thing to do when you're only working with sounds. But that was really the goal. And we came out of the production feeling like we achieved that."

OM&M take a sobering look at depression, anxiety, loneliness and existential fears, give strength in the darkness and emphasize the importance of creativity as a balm for mental health.

Of Mice & Men combine the uplifting eloquence of modern active rock with the atmospheric dissonance of experimental post-rock to create an impressive storm of sound. The band first emerged as part of a vanguard of future aggressive rock hitmakers. Over the years they have distinguished themselves through their musicianship, creative ambition and indestructible determination.

With songs like the GOLD-certified SECOND & SEBRING, Would You Still Be There and Obsolete from echo from 2021, OM&M placed themselves at the forefront of hard rock and post-hardcore music.