
In divided times, the power of music is undeniable. When that music is ferociously original and defiantly uplifting, the impact is even greater.
Formed in Paris, 2015, MOLYBARON's sound encompasses everything from tech-grooves and anthemic metal to multi-layered atmospherics, the band’s eccentric flair sets them apart.
“The most common thing I read when critics describe our music is their difficultly placing us in a genre: is it rock, is it metal, progressive metal, groove metal?” posits Gary Kelly, the band's singer/guitarist, and primary song writer, “Well in fact, I believe it’s all of the above.”
Released in 2017, MOLYBARON’s self-titled and self-released album provided a showcase for this new musical force. Wilfully eclectic, the album received much acclaim and led the band to be offered a series of support slots and festival appearances, including a European tour with NYC metallers A Pale Horse Named Death in 2019. Meanwhile, the band’s next artistic plan was being plotted, the results of which can be heard on MOLYBARON’s second album, The Mutiny. Like its predecessor, it offers hidden depths, both musical and lyrical.
From the infectious aggression and giant hooks of opener Animals, to the thunderous denouement of crushing closer Ordinary Madness, The Mutiny once again affirms MOLYBARON’s idiosyncratic identity and irresistible charms. As Metal Hammer UK put it: “Diverse and satisfying, The Mutiny is a banger!” The album was also added to Rock Hard magazine's Top 10 Albums of The Year.
MOLYBARON evoke the visionary fervour of bands like ALTER BRIDGE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN or MUSE, while never sounding remotely like any of them.
Kelly “We definitely can’t be defined by genre. It’s unintentional and certainly not by design, but in the end, the answer is pretty simple. I write and produce the songs for the band, but I suppose I’m odd, I never sit down and listen to music. I rarely go to gigs, I don’t play other artist’s music on guitar, it doesn’t give me any pleasure, I’m just happy in my own little zone. So really, I have no idea what people are listening to, what’s cool, what’s not. This has been pretty healthy for me, it allows me to write what I feel, without the worry of fitting a certain category.”
Recent times have proved that fans of heavy music are becoming increasingly open-minded and hungry for new and fervently individual music. With ‘The Mutiny’, MOLYBARON have struck upon something extremely fresh and invigorating: a sound fit for the future, but rooted in oomph and heft of heavy music’s illustrious past.
“Like all musicians, of course we dream of playing stadiums around the globe, but I can’t say there was ever a masterplan,” Kelly concludes. “We’re very aware there’s no easy road to success. Making a living through music is akin to winning the lottery, so we’ve kept our expectations firmly grounded. But with that said, we do believe in our music and in the right hands, with the right support, it could be taken to a mass audience, but who knows what the future holds. We wait and see”