EP REVIEW ~ THE MITRAS ~ 'RIPE'

I'm music magazine, the mitras, ripe, richmond, virginia, the ripper, russel redmond, imaginary sons, sean moran, 19999, house empty, zach antonioli,

The Mitras are back with a new three song EP following the release of two singles, “Caroline” and “No One Else,” which hit streaming platforms earlier this year. If you haven’t heard of this band yet, don’t worry. This week, I’m bringing a band from my neck of the woods into the I’m Music Magazine community. The Mitras hail from Richmond Virginia, a city with a rich (though occasionally complicated) history and a music scene as vast as it is diverse. From the underground experimental punk bands playing in make-shift venues and basements around Woodland Heights and The Fan, to the local legends featured at the annual Richmond Folk Festival on Brown’s Island, there’s a unique and complex niche for every genre. The Mitras fall somewhere between these two ends of the spectrum. Since their formation in 2019, they’ve gone from playing snug shows in coffee shops to performing at RVA rock staples like The Broadberry and The Camel, all while garnering a loyal fan base. And with the momentum they’ve built from the release of their two singles, they launched Ripe on July 7th.

If you’re looking for a quick introduction to the band’s style, the EP’s opening song, “The Ripper,” perfectly showcases who The Mitras are and what they’re about. Russel Redmond (former drummer for Imaginary Sons) combines his post-punk California drum style with the distinctly Richmond, slightly southern tone of Sean Moran’s vocals in a song that is musically technical but lyrically passive. The first line, “I don’t want to think about it,” is a repetitious mantra sung over distorted guitar and a driving bassline that contrasts the self-reflective question in the chorus, “Are you having fun?”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Dk-DKYfYjyw%3Findex%3D2%26list%3DOLAK5uy_mOyr7ovbOVuHW_rHc6U_3kScbfcdnaJFo

The second track, “19999,” is a clever earworm that quickly snuck into my head and (thankfully) has yet to leave. Much like the music of 1999, this song features a chugging guitar riff and catchy lyrics that are reminiscent of the recently resurging style of punk that’s most-closely associated with bands like Lit and Blink 182. The overall nostalgic vibe is sure to land with the band’s broad audience and to be a favorite at future shows.

If “The Ripper” introduces The Mitras, Ripe’s final track, “House Empty” shows their range. While this song is notably different from the rest of their material, it quickly became my favorite. Bassist Austin Miller opens the song with a significantly mellower tone, evoking a sadness which, by the second pass through the chorus, builds to anger with Redmond and Miller’s vocals adding depth and dimension to the final repeating line, “Take it all back.” Zach Antonioli, who has mastered the band’s music since their first EP, Meet The Mitras, lends his talent on keys before the song ends abruptly in an expression of apathy. The seamless transitions through these modes shows how tight the band has become since their early days playing at Crossroads Coffee Co. and provides hints of where the band could go in the future.

Whether you’re looking to acquaint yourself with the Richmond music scene or searching for an up and coming band to support, The Mitras are well-worth the deepdive. Their entire catalog is available for streaming on Spotify and Youtube and for purchase on Bandcamp. For information on upcoming shows and Ripe , check them out on Instagram and Facebook.

I’m Music Magazine Writer Kayleigh Rongey