Mr Pink Release Vicious New Single ‘Psycho’ – (Irish alt rock)
Band names often find new meaning after the sonics they brand fit around them. The ambiguity of MrPink allows the band to be everything and nothing simultaneously, not unlike their namesake from Reservoir Dogs. Building on the success of 2024 singles, ‘Love Hate Heartbreak’, ‘Feed The Disease’ and ‘Unknown’ which caught the sharpened ears of Hot Press, RTE, TheBeat.IE, UberRock and Rock N Load Magazine amongst others, the band return with their new single ‘Psycho’. Pendulum swings between sounds and influences is the modus operandi for MrPink, fully devouring the wide-ranging sonic tapestry and wringing it out into something only MrPink can produce. With ‘Psycho’ the pendulum swings only in the way of heavisoity, as Adam vents his considerable spleen over a previous relationship.
Mr Pink – Psycho (Spotify Link)
Having played in various outfits together over the years, MrPink formed around Mark Russell (guitar), Michael Smith (drums), Ciaran Buchanan (bass) and Adam Mullan(vocals). Forgoing any previous bands and throwing off the shackles of a cover scene, from the outset the band were keen not to be pinned down to one particular sound, opting for the freedom found in a genreless approach to their writing. The creative process is usually based around the presentation of an idea, then the band ‘feed off each other and not in a cannibalistic sense’. Only after the many hands have pulled and twisted the idea does it become a MrPink song.
‘Pyscho’ is one of many ideas forced through the MrPink grinder. Written during the band’s infancy, it stood the test of time and is given life in the release. During the writing the band focused on simplicity, leaning into the tense tweaker energy, giving the song its considerable heft and power. Opening with a skull shattering drum pattern from Michael, with a snare sound that recalls Fyfe Ewings on early Therapy?, as the bass and guitar join, you can already feel yourself scratching at your skin, over alert eyes searching the room for an imagineed threat. The guitars and bass create a seemingly impenetrable wall of noise that goes beyond any normal crunch or rumble. Adam says, “the song is raw emotional response towards a difficult relationship. The song is about finally letting go and saying how I actually felt rather than bottling it all up.” An exorcism through noise. As the track progresses and the intensity builds, Mark unleashes a skin peeling guitar solo while Ciaran’s bass fills so much sonic space it feels as though its trapped in your head. Swathes of revered 90s mavericks Faith No More and Larne’s finest, the aforementioned Therapy? can be heard throughout creating a rabid, snarling beast of a song.
Capturing this visceral energy was no mean feat, with the band opting to work with Michael Mormecha (Tru, Mojo Fury, Amy Montgomery, The Bonnevilles, Malojian) out of his TreeSong studios in Lisburn. Michael was on hand to help shape the song and sound, the production while huge still ensures that each instrument has its space and can be heard. The ever increasing background screams as the song reaches its crescendo are some excellent ear candy, no matter how unsettling.
To paraphrase the irrepressible Winston Zeddmore, MrPink have the tools, and the talent. On ‘Psycho’ they give you a glimpse of the heavier side of the band still a focus on songwriting, melody and hooks. All over a skull shattering drum sound.