The latest EP from Baltimore rock band, Have Mercy, is their first taste of new music since 2019, which in the middle of a pandemic might as well feel like it’s been eons. In addition, Have Mercy called it quits when the world went to shit in the spring of 2020, only to suddenly return with this reinvigorating self-titled EP that finds them sounding as refreshed as they’ve ever been. The record blasts off on the right foot with the anthemic “I’m Gonna Be Ok,” that sounds larger than life. Frontman Brian Swindle shared, “When we wrote this song, I realized that it summarized my entire life as of late. I met the love of my life and wanted to move forward with her but couldn’t until I took care of my issues. I had to get sober, get my mental health in check and just do better. This song was a reflection of all of that.” By handling the personal issues and coming out on the better side of things, Swindle and his bandmates in Have Mercy may have just made their late career masterpiece.
”SIO” follows the raucous opener with some great drumming from Todd Wallace, while Swindle commands the vocals throughout the mix. Right before the last, quiet chorus, guitarist Andrew Johnson showcases a brilliant, spiraling riff to bring further context to the fairly straight-forward rock song. “I Don’t Wanna Think of You,” on the other hand, is a pop-based song that features Swindle’s breathy vocals prominently in the verses before slow-building to a crowd pleasing chorus. Have Mercy have continued to improve on their storytelling within these songs, and they continue to expand upon the best parts of their sound on songs like this.
”Marry Me” brings the pace down a few notches with its keyboard-tinged opening bars, before Swindle breaks the near-silence with some lyrics about making a last ditch effort to spend the rest of your life with the person that means the most to you in this crazy world. The song never really explodes into a wall of sound that I was expecting towards the tail end of the track, but it’s a forgivable missed opportunity when the material is as well-crafted as it is here. “I’ll Wait” follows the ballad with a steady beat and a great bass line from Nick Woolford before an enjoyable pre-chorus that launches into a power pop chorus meant for radio domination.
”Fast Car” and “Strawberry Hill” round out the collection of songs found on this self-titled EP that breathes plenty of new air into this great band’s sound. The closer in particular shows off the patience of the band to hit their marks within each of their dramatic spots within their sound to leave a lasting legacy with their music. Whereas a young rock band would power through these moments, Have Mercy truly seem to be enjoying every note together as they work towards building towards an uncertain future. And for now, that’s more than enough to look forward to for this talented group of musicians.