Album Review: neptune blood – A Quiet Riot Inside
The debut EP from Limerick’s neptune blood presents a sound that's as robust and energetic as it is atmospheric. The quartet — Ronan Mitchell, Manolis Pates, Shane Serrano, and Damien Moore — combine intricate textures and catchy riffs with clear-cut melodic lines. Recorded with producer Ben Wanders at Wanderland Recording Studio, the EP captures the band exploring 2000s indie, 80s postpunk as well industrial and psychedelic influences in search of their own voice.
“Midnight Showing” is built around a catchy, almost danceable guitar riff, layered with wailing, textural guitar lines that add depth and sense of space. The vocals are relaxed and meditative, yet delivered with winning confidence. The song rides a muscular groove that gives all of its layers both energy and structure. Overall, the sound recalls the introspective intensity of The National and the dramatic, anthemic quality of Future Islands.
“Best Laid Plans” carries a relaxed, almost languid vocal delivery that evokes Arctic Monkeys at the height of AM. The track layers even more textural elements than the previous song, creating an airy, expansive soundscape. Listening to it feels like being suspended in a vast, empty space, where instrumental flourishes and sonic effects appear like stars and streaks of comets, constantly shifting and illuminating the surroundings.
“In Calico” recalls the work of other indie icons from that era, particularly The Strokes. The track features a minimalist guitar part reminiscent of Albert Hammond Jr., while atmospheric soundscapes weave throughout, giving it depth and texture. A subtle trumpet line adds a layer of sentimentality, evoking the emotive touch of Camera Obscura.
“Huge If True” has an almost magical quality, at times evoking the feeling of a festive, holiday hymn. The trumpet returns, adding warmth and color, while the song constantly shifts in rhythm, melody, and sonic landscape, keeping the listener on their toes. As the band themselves describe it, it is “a sure-footed journey of genres that will leave your head spinning … in the best possible way.” Certain sections feel deliberately designed for a stadium sing-along, giving the track anthemic scope without losing its playful unpredictability.
A Quiet Riot Inside is striking in its combination of soundscapes that feel like impressionist paintings — delicate, textured, and full of nuance — with powerful, in-your-face grooves that hit hard. Despite its moments of intimacy, the record carries a stadium-scale ambition, giving each track a sense of grandeur and scope that makes the whole release feel larger than the sum of its parts.
“Midnight Showing” is built around a catchy, almost danceable guitar riff, layered with wailing, textural guitar lines that add depth and sense of space. The vocals are relaxed and meditative, yet delivered with winning confidence. The song rides a muscular groove that gives all of its layers both energy and structure. Overall, the sound recalls the introspective intensity of The National and the dramatic, anthemic quality of Future Islands.
“Best Laid Plans” carries a relaxed, almost languid vocal delivery that evokes Arctic Monkeys at the height of AM. The track layers even more textural elements than the previous song, creating an airy, expansive soundscape. Listening to it feels like being suspended in a vast, empty space, where instrumental flourishes and sonic effects appear like stars and streaks of comets, constantly shifting and illuminating the surroundings.
“In Calico” recalls the work of other indie icons from that era, particularly The Strokes. The track features a minimalist guitar part reminiscent of Albert Hammond Jr., while atmospheric soundscapes weave throughout, giving it depth and texture. A subtle trumpet line adds a layer of sentimentality, evoking the emotive touch of Camera Obscura.
“Huge If True” has an almost magical quality, at times evoking the feeling of a festive, holiday hymn. The trumpet returns, adding warmth and color, while the song constantly shifts in rhythm, melody, and sonic landscape, keeping the listener on their toes. As the band themselves describe it, it is “a sure-footed journey of genres that will leave your head spinning … in the best possible way.” Certain sections feel deliberately designed for a stadium sing-along, giving the track anthemic scope without losing its playful unpredictability.
A Quiet Riot Inside is striking in its combination of soundscapes that feel like impressionist paintings — delicate, textured, and full of nuance — with powerful, in-your-face grooves that hit hard. Despite its moments of intimacy, the record carries a stadium-scale ambition, giving each track a sense of grandeur and scope that makes the whole release feel larger than the sum of its parts.