The Maddocks share sophomore EP ‘The Mind Palace’
The Northern rockers are back with a catchy and mysterious offering.
Photo: Ianthe Warlow
George Edwards (vocals and lead guitar), Siobhán Lally (bass), Ed Gibbins (drums) and Alex Tollerfield (rhythm guitar) form The Maddocks, the Northern post-punkers fizzing across the UK to charm audiences from all corners of the indie scene. Since their inception in 2022, they have been consistently honing their sound and captivating fans, with 2024’s What’s On The Menu? and a series of sold-out headline shows garnering critical acclaim from Radio X’s John Kennedy and Tim Burgess.
They are now back — matured and self-assured — with the dynamic The Mind Palace, an EP straight from the core of vehemence. The band reflect that coming up with a coherent concept for this release was both “challenging and really rewarding” and they hope that “people enjoy the story which loosely runs throughout the EP, and that they can connect to it in some way”. Whilst the lyrics and themes are primarily left open to interpretation, you can’t escape the simmering connotations of musings and mystery which permeate the sonic undercurrents with impassioned persistence.
The extended play begins with a 30-second spoken word performance by Joel Wood, a close friend of the band. The shadowy words are echoed over atmospheric crackles which pulls the listener into a realm of brooding mystery right from the get-go, establishing an enigmatic groundwork that’s reinforced in the other four songs that follow.
The previously released Benny Says is a high-octane, anthemic eruption which bubbles and spits from the visceral depths of psychedelia and unrestrained passion. It’s a riotous yet deeply human exploration of identity, which pulls you in with its swirling flange guitars and catchy hooks. What Are They Doing To Sundays? both questions and builds upon a wax and wane of anxiety and frustration by opening with an ominous and spacey soundscape that’s cracked open with the help of an arcanely resonant dystopian chord progression. It’s dark and contemplative, forged nicely by a tight rhythm section. Cascading riffs and softer vocals make up Frozen Over, as the mood shifts to one of warmth and exhilaration, which unfolds with the energy of a new beginning, before the heartfelt These Are The Good Days brings the EP to a satisfying close. The track exudes a nostalgic charm, with Britpop-inspired guitars which glisten through heartfelt arpeggios.
The Maddocks have supplied us a sizeable fix of introspective earworms, tinged with that gratifying Northern bite, and will certainly be grabbing 2025 by the high-energy reigns. In March, they have their biggest headline show yet at Manchester Academy 3 – it won’t be one to miss.
The Mind Palace is out now on all streaming platforms.