“Shaking Off The Evil” (SINGLE/VIDEO) by Moon Fever

Those who love real, brooding rock music have been left hungry for something to satisfy that sweet spot for far too long now, but answering their prayers this summer is a band by the name of Moon Fever, whose third official single in “Shaking Off The Evil” is as emotive as true hard rock can be without losing its creative center. “Shaking Off The Evil,” as a music video, is a love letter to the band’s roots and, more specifically, the themes they’ve incorporated into their work thus far, but I wouldn’t call it a work of self-indulgence. There’s a desire to be vulnerable beneath the surface cosmetics in this single, and if we listen closely enough, there’s an intricately-carved groove present just begging for us to acknowledge its story alongside that of the lyrics.

SMART URL :https://lnk.to/ShakingOffTheEvil

I don’t find anything about the assaultive, marching beat of the percussion in this song to be even remotely pretentious, but I can see where some of the band’s rivals might take away something a little different than I did. The swagger is a massive element here, but there’s no competing between the different players for the lion’s share of our attention. From the moment we press play to the second in which the music disappears from our speakers altogether, it’s obvious this is a group effort because it feels like one. The singer is leading charge, but collectively it’s this band’s muscularity that drives the hook to the audience with more tenacity than anything else.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuFMrSk9AJ8

Moon Fever’s best quality as a group is their anti-filler attitude, and if there were critics not acknowledging this before the release of “Shaking Off The Evil,” I think they’re going to be making it a focal point of their breakdowns for this most recent studio recording and its music video. There’s not a stitch of unnecessary content in either the single or the visual experience created in support of its arrival; the imagery focuses on expanding the theme suggested in the lyrics, and although it touches on some elements of controversy (though only the prudes among us), it doesn’t dive into anything so distractingly offensive that we aren’t able to focus on what really matters here. These guys are all about celebrating their melodies, which is something that will take them far in the coming years.

APPLE MUSIC: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/moon-fever/1497455620?ign-gact=3&ls=1

The mainstream might be falling short when it comes to keeping us true blue rockers happy in 2020, but the indie scene – and especially Moon Fever – are doing everything they can to keep rock’s eternal flame ablaze in songs like this one. “Shaking Off The Evil” has the look of a revolution for its genre and the feel of an homage to a bygone era in its history, and while it shows us that this group still has a lot of growing up to do before they’ll be ready for the primetime, it also says a lot about where they’re already at. I’m game for more of their content, preferably in the form of a full-length studio album.

Mark Druery