107. EP Review of The Madness by Galaxy Parade
Originally Published on April 2nd, 2025
About the Artist
There is something indescribably incredible about being in a band that just clicks. In the mid-late 2000’s, I was in a band in Nashville called Next Year’s Best that had a fleeting moment that would eventually fizzle. This story isn’t about them though.
After Next Year’s Best flamed, the drummer and I started another band in one last attempt to make it. Our bass player was a guy I had played with before and, to this day, is the best bass player I’ve heard play. We also got a new lead guitar player named Jake. Personality-wise, Jake and I were oil and water. We clashed, we got on each other’s nerves, we disagreed about everything. But the minute our drummer counted us in, we discovered that we shared a brain musically. He would noodle around on a song and 15 minutes later I would write a song. I lived for those moments in rehearsals when I would hear something vocally or on the guitar mid-song and I would make the change and I could hear Jake just laugh or yell his approval over the drums and distortion.
It was life. It made everything else go away.
Eventually though, this band would also break up but those days will always be special to me. Jake would leave to play for another band, I would bitterly lash out about it and the last words we spoke to each other were cold and deflating, and that would be the final nail in the coffin for my band days. For a moment though, we felt invincible.
It’s a special thing to find that group that just blends together. That is exactly the thing that Galaxy Parade has. Just listening to them, it is evident. The lock between the bass and drums. The rhythm guitars are so disciplined and full. The lead guitar knows each and every hole to fill and the vocals are fluid with the mix.
The Houston-based band reminds me of my days with Next Year’s Best and with Dropshot. They would have fit well with that indie scene in that era of music. There was a band we often rolled with called The Hollywood Kills that Galaxy Parade actually remind me a lot of musically.
Galaxy Parade released a self-titled debut album in June 2023. This album was 10 songs and 35 minutes, offering an alternative, garage, sort of surf rock sound that shows elements where they sound like Weezer and other moments where they sound like Chevelle. The bond between these two sounds is something that stylistically stays in my ear. It’s catchy and it is moving. Their choruses almost perform as anthems to the music.
In February and August of 2024, they would release a group of singles that would eventually be released on their EP and follow up to their debut.
About the EP
The Madness is a 5- song EP that released on January 31st that has a run time of 17 minutes. The Madness builds on the great sound that Galaxy Parade established in Galaxy Parade (2023). The Madness was produced and released by Galaxy Parade
About the Music
As stated, The Madness has the same feel of their debut but exhibits significant growth musically. The drums and bass are so disciplined and in sync; just like the first album. However, their performances are more dynamic here.
The guitars are layered so well and mixed in with the each song in such a fluid way. The band sounds like one moving body that is taking its commands from the same brain. I hear the same energy that Jake and I would have when we celebrated a musical victory. It’s all throughout this work.
There are two very notable instances where I hear significant growth. One is the lead guitars. There is such an assertiveness in the lead parts being played. There are some Matthew Bellamy moments like in One Night in Your Next Life (Lost in Time), where it almost has a Stockholm Syndrome feel to it from Muse's album Absolution.
Then in Alone Again, he plays these technically perfect scales with a bright, crisp distortion that is eerily reminiscent of older Brian May riffs when Queen we’re at the top of the rock and roll mountain. Then in Lost Valentine, the guitars take on a journey that almost sound like an oldies rock and roll sound to the style of Buddy Holly mixed with Creep by Radiohead. Then in a climatically epic performance, the guitars fill out with a loud, layered closing progression.
The other element is the vocals. The performance is good in both projects. I just really like some of the production decisions that were made in the madness. The vocals sound open and balanced. The layering was done in a way that properly fills the sound space throughout the EP. Even with the band playing at incredible volumes, the vocalist can be clearly heard.
Melodically, he has made crisp and decisive choices with where to go with the music. His pitch and tone are excellent. He uses backing vocals at appropriate times to fill sound space and other times, he highlights his performance by executing a dynamic monotone performance.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this project works for me in so many ways. First Galaxy Parade have established an identity in this, their second released body of work. Second, this identity has evolved in their performance and production. Finally, Galaxy Parade exhibit cohesive energy within their entire performance.
Galaxy Parade have a solid alternative rock to rock sound that can fill a room. Not just with people to listen, but the sound can just fill the void. They pack a big punch without missing any of the intricate little details that establish who they are as a band.
I love how Galaxy Parade have shown growth with The Madness. Expanding on the sound they have perfected from Galaxy Parade (2023) they incorporate experimentations within every song that show they’re not just repetitively sticking to a formula they think works, but they’re willing to go and find the boundaries of what they’ve already achieved and push those walls down.
Finally, this is all able to work because this band is tight. They’re locked in. It can be argued that the most important relationship in a band is the drums and the bass. It is essential that these two elements are locked in together because they build a foundation for melodies to move freely. With that solid foundation, there are opportunities to explore, redefine, and amplify a performance. Galaxy Parade do all of these things in The Madness.
I was first introduced to Galaxy Parade by my guy Neccos for Breakfast a few months ago. As always, Neccos is there with the name drops because Galaxy Parade are a great band. They’ve got something good going with this energy. I can’t wait to hear what they do next.
You can subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
The Madness released on January 31st, 2025 and is streaming all places where streaming streams (except for ACTUAL streams you know. In nature and shit).
GO PRESS PLAY!!!!
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