Hello Mary – Emita Ox

New York alt-rock trio Hello Mary are back with their second album, Emita Ox, and it’s more avant-garde and noisier than ever. After releasing their self-titled debut to much acclaim in 2023, Stella Wave, Helena Straight and Mikaela Oppenheimer have adopted a more experimental approach for their new work.

Imagine a modern-day Nirvana In Utero played by LA four-piece Warpaint, but with a Frank Zappa edge to it, and you’ll start to grasp the essence of Emita Ox. Opening track Float begins with enjoyable and mystical harmonies, erupting unexpectedly towards the end. Meanwhile, 0% serves as a satisfyingly chaotic bridge to the softer sounds of Three.

It’s a record with many ups and downs, one minute you have harmonies over pleasant guitar strings and the next there’s an explosion of heavy instrumentals. While some parts are more enjoyable than others, the band goes against the grain with its bold composition and arrangements. Signs of this radical approach were evident in their debut, but their sophomore album pushes this further.

Knowing You is a definite highlight, venturing into the shoegaze territory as the genre experiences a simmering resurgence amongst Gen Z. The record is littered with short transitional tracks, such as the sombre Heavy Sleeper and the futuristic-sounding Hiyeahi, complemented by bursts of classic grunge sounds on tracks like Footstep Misstep. Strong folk influences are also evident, especially in the last two tracks, Bubble and Everything We Do.

Emita Ox may be challenging to get your head around at first, but it offers some intriguing elements, including delicious modern grunge fused with burst of riotous punk. Hello Mary are carving a unique path for themselves, opting for further experimentation on the often tricky second album instead of pursuing mainstream radio play.

Hannah Broughton

Emita Ox is released on 13^th September 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Hello Mary’s website here.

Watch the video for 0% here: