{"title":"Of Mice and Men","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"tether","title":"Tether","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew hard rock albums are as intimate as the modern output from Of Mice and Men. While their songs pack the kind of rhythmic punch and anthemic bombast that thrills festival crowds, the confessional lyrics, and haunting melodies are the heart of what they do. Frontman Aaron Pauley engineered (with the rest of the band), produced, mixed, and mastered \u003ci\u003eTether,\u003c\/i\u003e the quartet’s astonishing eighth album. Drummer Valentino Arteaga handled the artwork. As a legion of devoted listeners worldwide has come to expect, guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, Aaron, and Tino poured their hearts and souls into every note, creating another sonic document of their lives. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Of Mice and Men take sobering looks at depression, anxiety, loneliness, and existential dread, powering through the darkness, and emphasizing the importance of creativity as a balm for mental health. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA commanding tempest of sounds coalesces within Of Mice and Men, blending the uplifting eloquence of modern active rock with the atmospheric dissonance of experimental post-rock. The band first emerged as part of a vanguard of future aggressive rock hitmakers. Over the years, they’ve distinguished themselves with musicality, creative ambition, and resilient determination. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSongs like the Gold-certified “Second and Sebering,” “Would You Still Be There,” and “Obsolete,” from 2021’s \u003ci\u003eEcho\u003c\/i\u003e, cemented  Of Mice and Men at the forefront of hard rock and post-hardcore music. (WWE superstar Rhea Ripley counts “Second and Sebering,” among the ten songs that changed her life, alongside classics from Queen, Taylor Swift, Falling In Reverse, and Motionless In White.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe rumble of their 2010 self-titled debut; the following year’s follow-up, \u003ci\u003eThe Flood\u003c\/i\u003e; and 2014’s No. 1 Billboard Independent album, \u003ci\u003eRestoring Force\u003c\/i\u003e, catapulted them onto a massive tour with Linkin Park. \u003ci\u003eCold World\u003c\/i\u003e (2016) saw them on the road with Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe California band took home the Best International Newcomer prize at the 2013 Kerrang! Awards and were twice nominated as Artist Of The Year at the APMAs, where Manansala took home Best Guitarist. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2018’s \u003ci\u003eDefy \u003c\/i\u003eput longtime bassist Aaron’s voice front and center. “Of Mice and Men don’t miss a beat with Pauley as the frontman,” wrote\u003ci\u003e Loudwire\u003c\/i\u003e. “\u003ci\u003eDefy\u003c\/i\u003e delivers the sound fans have come to expect (big hooks, monster grooves, and singalong melodies) while still breaking some new ground.” The band supported \u003ci\u003eDefy\u003c\/i\u003e on the road, including tours with Bullet For My Valentine and Nothing More. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKerrang!\u003c\/i\u003e heralded the incredibly heavy \u003ci\u003eEarthandsky\u003c\/i\u003e (2019) as “confident, cohesive,” and “angry.” Australia’s \u003ci\u003eWall Of Sound\u003c\/i\u003e called it “the perfect balance in melodic metalcore” and “a great addition to their legendary catalog and contribution they’ve brought during their entire career as a band.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEarthandsky\u003c\/i\u003e cleared a path for the diverse trio of EPs that followed, collected as \u003ci\u003eEcho \u003c\/i\u003ein 2021. As Of Mice and Men wrote in a shared statement, \u003ci\u003eEcho\u003c\/i\u003e “covers life and impermanence, love and the infinite - how the most wonderful and most tragic parts of the human experience deeply intertwine.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlbum eight is no less ambitious. \u003ci\u003eTether \u003c\/i\u003eis anchored by a reflective meditation on what it means to draw together as friends, family men, artists, and bandmates. What does it mean to be there for the people who depend on us, knowing we can’t fully protect them from the hardships of life? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“We’ve worked with so many talented producers and artists throughout our career, and we’ve been able to learn something from each of them,” Pauley explains. “We really left ourselves open as we wrote. Anytime a spark of imagination made anybody’s ears perk up, we pursued it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTether\u003c\/i\u003e is the next step in Of Mice and Men’s evolution, combining their core sound with experimental and ethereal sound designs. The creative process focused on the excitement of discovery rather than preconceived “goals.” Pursuing the moments when the elusive “x factor” reveals itself in the songs. Those moments are \u003ci\u003epalpable \u003c\/i\u003ein songs like “Integration,” “War Paint,” “Enraptured,” and “Indigo.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Of Mice and Men core since 2016 – Aaron, Alan, Tino, and Phil – maintain a powerful bond with their audience and each other, no matter the obstacles. Whether a powerful anthem or atmospheric confession, their songs translate in intimate clubs and massive festivals.  “It’s about creating moments for people,” Pauley says. “Music is the soundtrack to people's lives.” \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50393598460235,"sku":"2049164","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50393598886219,"sku":"2049165","price":44.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Tether_910cc4bc_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726421969"},{"product_id":"echo-1","title":"Echo","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt its best, heavy music produces songs of escape and catharsis. Few bands demonstrate this ethos as powerfully as Of Mice and Men, the multifaceted metalcore machine whose mission is to make the soundtrack for every heartbreak, melancholic rumination, and moment of triumph. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt’s a potent and perfect storm of elements. A bombastic and uplifting roar familiar to fans of Linkin Park; a layered crunch akin to the Deftones; thrashing old school riffage a la Slayer and Exodus; the sensual atmosphere of Sade or Radiohead; swirled into a singular sound uniquely Of Mice and Men. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcross a half dozen studio albums, the group’s combination of crowd-moving breakdowns, staccato rhythms, and soaring melodic vocals bridged the gap from the underground to the world at large. Their songs catapulted them onto massive tours with Linkin Park and Rise Against (2015); Slipknot and Marilyn Manson (2016); and Five Finger Death Punch and In Flames (2017). \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"White | LP","offer_id":50432617251147,"sku":"1149969","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50432617906507,"sku":"1137526","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/1cb5e210-f67a-43a7-9083-02b76e1639fc_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726871257"},{"product_id":"another-miracle","title":"Another Miracle","description":"\u003cp\u003eOf Mice and Men unveil their ninth studio album, \u003cem\u003eAnother Miracle\u003c\/em\u003e, a bold, deeply personal, and emotionally resonant work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince their explosive debut in 2010, the Southern California band has redefined the boundaries of metalcore and hard rock with albums like \u003cem\u003eThe Flood\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eRestoring Force\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eEcho\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eTether\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, they take full creative control: self-produced, mixed, and mastered by frontman Aaron Pauley, this album is as intimate as it is powerful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown for their anthemic choruses and emotionally charged lyrics, Of Mice and Men once again blend raw heaviness with introspective depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMusically, the album blends the crushing intensity of metalcore with atmospheric textures and experimental flourishes. It’s a sound both familiar and fresh – a testament to the band’s growth and fearless creativity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt explores themes of isolation, anxiety, and the universal longing for hope. “Life is hard,” says Pauley. “But everyone knows what it’s like to wish for a miracle.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat sentiment pulses through tracks like “Wake Up,” “Hourglass,” “A Waltz,” and the title track “Another Miracle” – each one a sonic journey through darkness and light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongtime members Aaron, Alan, Phil, and Tino remain a tight unit and have long stood at the forefront of modern rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTours with Linkin Park, Slipknot, and Bullet For My Valentine as well as gold-certified singles and awards have cemented their legacy on authenticity and resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet, they remain creatively hungry and emotionally grounded. \u003cem\u003eAnother Miracle\u003c\/em\u003e is a record born from vulnerability and driven by the desire to connect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a powerful reminder of music’s ability to heal, to unite, and to inspire. Whether in a packed arena or through headphones in solitude, Of Mice and Men continue to create music that connects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis may be their most mature and human album yet – a soundtrack for anyone holding on to hope.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Century Media","offers":[{"title":"LP - Transparent Light Blue Marbled","offer_id":52831197299019,"sku":"R4289-6826","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP - White","offer_id":52831197331787,"sku":"R4289-2427","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":52831197364555,"sku":"R4289-0412","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/OfMiceAndMen_AnotherMiracle_e6726bff-b8c2-4ca6-9245-00a3830c487b.jpg?v=1752307559"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/of-mice-and-men.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}