Do you ever have those moments when you press “play” and the universe around you freezes? And then something bursts in — something so alive, so primal and honest — that you realise how long you’ve been waiting for exactly this sound. My world has just been split into “before” and “after” Captain Mantis. The Mexican band has just released their brand-new EP ‘Vice Market’, and as a devoted fan of everything indie and everything fresh, I simply could not miss it.

Captain Mantis live and breathe rock music; they are rock itself, in all its many-faced, rebellious beauty. Their sound carries the scorching air of Monterrey, where this recording was made, almost physically tangible. You can hear the touch of producers Paco Lazo and Andres Lavalle, Latin Grammy nominees — a detail that only emphasises the level. The true magic lies in the pulsating, immense heart of four men: Pato Sepúlveda, Charlie Lowry, Ignacio Alvarez, and, of course, Checo Ruizesparza.

photo by Tebah Gonzalez

There is so much rock around right now, with a trend towards that vintage sound. Yet these guys sound genuinely themselves. You can sense that each of them enjoys what he does, and together they create an incredible blaze. They aim to resemble no one, they simply play as they breathe — honestly and powerfully. Their music comes across as an eclectic statement, and I am already head over heels in love.

Today, like everyone else, I’m having my first listen to ‘Vice Market’, and to jump ahead — this listen has become a true revelation for me. I was expecting one thing and received instead a journey through different eras and moods of rock, with each of the four songs a separate, brightly lit room in the vast house of their soul.

From the very first chords of ‘Moonshine Alley’, I was swept away by a wave of pure, unclouded rock’n’roll drive. It felt as though I was racing in an open-top car along a night highway, wind in my hair, with only freedom and adventure ahead. Pure, unfiltered joy that makes you drop every thought and just move. I caught myself sitting there with a foolish grin, feeling one hundred percent happy. Then the album sharply changes course, throwing you into the embrace of the title track, ‘Vice Market’. Its hot, juicy Latin rhythm and bilingual verses instantly create an atmosphere of seduction and a gentle, pleasant danger. You immediately understand that this band has no fear of variety, no fear of experimenting, and they play with fire with incredible confidence. A sound that makes your blood run faster.

There is an extraordinary synergy in ‘Vice Market’ — a living, breathing organism. Checo Ruizesparza’s vocals, so easily and naturally flowing from English to Spanish, sound magical. He seduces, he tells stories, he is fiery and bold. And then, at 2:53, Pato Sepúlveda’s guitar solo bursts in, turning into a full-blown fire. The guitarist plays in a way that seems to burn them into your soul. His skill feels tangible, making the heart beat faster. The band’s sound emerges as a masterful cocktail of blues touches, folk picking, and burning Latin rhythms, all perfectly balanced. They embrace variety, and it is precisely this eclecticism and the courage to explore different sonic landscapes that make their music so deep and truly unforgettable. And the way Ignacio Alvarez’s bass sounds! It holds the rhythm and sets the mood; it pulses, living its own slightly sinful life.

photo by Tebah Gonzalez

The acoustic ballad ‘Galatea’, hidden at the heart of this wild energy, becomes a moment of absolute vulnerability. The acoustic guitar speaks like a quiet, intimate conversation after a storm, a deep breath in the midst of beautiful chaos. Nothing superfluous — and that makes it cut to the bone. It’s in moments like these that you realise something fragile and real lies beneath all this power and force. And that hits the hardest.

For me, the emotional peak was ‘Simon Frost’. The composition unfolds an entire story told through sound — a story of a man who, despite hearing problems, followed his dream, the music that played inside him. The song itself takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. The way it grows from an almost defenceless whisper to an all-consuming roar is a true masterclass in musical storytelling. It begins almost tenderly, with a barely audible guitar picking, and then gathers speed, carried by the powerful rhythm section of Checo Ruizesparza, becoming a life-affirming anthem of self-belief. It makes you square your shoulders; it whispers in your ear: “Take the risk, jump, you can do it all!” ‘Simon Frost’ made me feel fearless, and I will return to that feeling again and again whenever I need a breath of courage.

The music of Captain Mantis possesses a rare quality — it inspires. It urges you to act. These guys pulse with life — bright, unpredictable, real. You simply believe every sound, and that feeling never lets you go.

I am in complete, unconditional awe. ‘Vice Market’ has become that breath of fresh air the modern rock scene so badly needed. And most importantly, Captain Mantis are not trying to reinvent the wheel — they simply take the best of rock: its energy, its honesty, its sensuality, and run it through their hot Mexican hearts, creating something absolutely unique and thrillingly authentic. Their music is meant to be felt with your whole body; it makes you want to live, to love, to take risks.

I have already put all four tracks on repeat in my playlist, and I wholeheartedly recommend you do the same. This kind of living, breathing rock is always relevant. You will not regret it. I swear. Discover Captain Mantis, and I promise — your world will never be the same.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub