Album Review: Early Moods – Early Moods

An exciting release with influences from the 2000s

Based out of Los Angeles, California, Early Moods is a band that specializes in rock and doom metal music. The group first formed in 2015 and released its first album, Spellbound in 2020. In August of 2022, Early Moods released their second album, Early Moods.

As of the release of Early Moods, the band currently consists of Oscar Hernandez as the lead guitarist, Chris Flores on drums, Elix Felciano on bass, Alberto Alcaraz on vocals and Eddie Andrade on guitar. This five-man lineup for Early Moods has created something that doesn’t restrict itself to one genre of music but instead takes inspiration from several.

“Return to Salem’s Gate” kicks off the album nicely. The music has a fast-paced feeling that is reminiscent of 2000s rock. This return to a previous era of rock adds a nice touch of nostalgia to an excellent song.

“Live to Suffer” has a similar tune to “Return to Salem’s Gate” with minor differences. There seems to be less focus on vocals, but the song still manages to rock. There also seems to be more emphasis on the bass and drums than in “Return to Salem’s Gate” which helps differentiate the song.

“Defy thy Name” is faster-paced than previous songs, with more emphasis on the guitars. The riffs of the guitars make it stand out more than previous songs. While other songs are just as good, listeners who prefer listening to faster songs will likely prefer “Defy thy Name.”

Early Moods is an exceptional album. The music shines, as it is diverse throughout the album, and no matter which instrument is utilized, every song is excellent. Although the music may stand out more, the vocals are still excellent and fun to listen to.

Early Moods is reminiscent of a release from the 2000s. The electric vibes that don’t gravitate towards one genre specifically help this album stand out for listeners to enjoy.