Portland continues to provide us with delightfully alternative music, and Merwulf is a great example. They are a minimalist post-punk and indie trio of bass guitar, keys, and drums. That makes their music feel quite angular and aggressive because of their instruments of choice. Fans say they have a 70’s New York vibe to them because the vintage keys, distorted bass, and slaptastic drumming bring a b-movie edge to their sound. There’s an underlying horror that piqued my personal taste, and songwriter Merri Garcia has a knack for creating an anxious tension in her music. It culminates in a taut, rubberband-about-to-break electricity that could spark rage in an instant.
After forming in 2022 when Merri Garcia moved away from piano and synths to writing on bass, Merwulf became a trio when long-term friends Misty and Larry R. joined. Bass guitars can fill the electric guitar void easily when played as the lead, and Merwulf has shown that since their 2023 debut release, ‘All Zen +2’.
‘The Mountain Lion’ is the latest single from their sophomore album ‘In the Golden Age’. The album is due for release in May 2026, but the single is out now. Now a mother, Merri has been inspired by how she see’s politics around her. The single speaks of a potentially wounded mountain lion looking to be hunted and taken out. Meanwhile, her cub doesn’t want her older mother to suffer. As the haunted keys and bass riffs build up, Garcia repeats ‘I don’t want to live in a world without my mother in it’. It is full of awkward, caustic quirks and moments of tension as their battle of big cats and wills plays out. It’s a great piece of storytelling from multiple perspectives, and it has got me very excited for the album.
For more information about the single, album, and upcoming tour dates, visit Merwulf’s website.
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