MAD SEASON Vinilo y CD

Review: Mad Season's singular studio effort weaves between raw grunge and introspective melancholy, a haunting exploration of the 90s alt-rock sound. Anchored by the emotive vocals of Layne Staley and the blistering guitar work of Mike McCready, the record captures a mood of somber reflection and hard-hitting release. Tracks like 'River of Deceit' pulse with dark, brooding energy, its aching delivery underscored by a gritty groove, while 'I Don't Know Anything' shifts between quiet introspection and explosive moments of intensity, embodying the turmoil of self-doubt. With Mark Lanegan's gravelly vocals adding an extra layer of depth, the album merges pained ballads with cathartic rock, evoking a sense of both isolation and raw emotion. Across the tracklist, the combination of delicate and forceful moments paints a portrait of a band fully immersed in their emotional landscape.

Review: Mad Season's Above (1995) is a haunting, introspective grunge album, one that stands out for its inclusion of pioneering genre genii Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Screaming Trees, and its distinctive blend of tene-briated rock with bluesy undertones. Now repressed on its 30th Anniversary, we once again bask in Layne Staley's stimulant voice, weaving unmistakable soul-searcher lyrics on 'River Of Deceit' and 'I Don't Know Anything'; reflecting addiction, despair, redemption. Electric textures overlay each mix like catenary haywire, establishing a maverick sound that sits, forborne, in an uncomfortable social space, accepting social ills like falsity and duping: despite the literal aboveness of the title, the album seems to say, "the only way is through."