Rarely do I have the pleasure of hearing something so different and well-produced from an artist I’m ashamed to say I knew little of beforehand.
Manfrog are from Teesside and their aggressive and soul-sounding rock reminds me of so much: from the guitar sounds of Ron Thal, Richard Forus and Bumblefoot on Guns N’ Roses’ opus ‘Chinese Democracy’ to the wailing vocals of Pearl Jam’s ‘Eddie Vedder’ in his prime.
But despite just being well-packaged nostalgia, it’s a unique experience that invites the listener to want to find more – to seek out new songs and ideas.
Reportedly taking almost two years to create, the finished product shows real artistry, a majesty in its craft and composition that would make Led Zeppelin blush.
I genuinely cannot think of another track, in almost 20 years of writing reviews, that has made such a positive initial impact.
How this artist isn’t currently headlining festivals with a sound like this is, quite frankly, criminal.
So get in now, on the ground floor, and rejoice at perfection.
You can listen to ‘Ragnarsson’ now on all major streaming platforms.
