Rosetta West, a band from Illinois, makes music that does more than just sound good. A deep experience for your mind and feelings is provided. Different music styles are mixed in a special way, almost like a ritual. Their new songs, “Snake 25” and “Oh Mary,” work together as a pair. They aren’t just separate songs. “Snake 25” is like a wild storm inside you. “Oh Mary” is the quiet you feel after the storm. A story about change is told, moving from dark times to light.
“Snake 25” starts with an old feeling. It’s like something hidden is waking up. The music is carefully made, like a ceremony. Guitars and keyboards slowly build up, like a storm coming. Joseph Demagore’s voice is deep and strong, like an old storyteller. Words that are a bit mysterious but full of meaning are sung. Secret truths are hinted at. He asks, “Who has come on the rising sun?” This question stays with you. The rising sun, a symbol of new life, suggests the song is like a test. The snake, a symbol of change, appears in the words. It feels both scary and eye-opening. The number 25 is unclear, adding to the mystery and making you think.
The song “Snake 25” goes from sad to happy. It begins soft and slow, then gets really strong and loud. Guitars and drums sound like chains breaking apart. Jason X makes sure you can hear each part well, and they also go together nicely. The music is made to sound full and rich, but not confusing. Nathan Q. Scratch’s drumming is simple and strong, like the song’s beat. The mix of acoustic and electric sounds makes the music feel like you can almost touch it. The song changes a lot, from tense to free and from questioning to strong. By the end, you feel like you’ve gone through something big.
Snake 25
“Oh Mary” is like the calm dawn after a storm, very different from “Snake 25.” While that song was full of energy, “Oh Mary” is peaceful and quiet. The guitars here are bright, like stars in the sky. The rhythm is steady and soft, and the song feels natural and like meditation. Joseph Demagore’s voice is softer here, not as commanding. He sounds like he’s praying, reaching for something beyond words. The words, while still a bit mysterious, have a different feel. If “Snake 25” was about the fight, “Oh Mary” is about letting go. The title itself suggests someone who brings comfort, like a light in the dark.
You can feel the link between these two songs. “Snake 25” makes you look inside yourself, into the dark, secret places. Your old self is shed, and you have to fight and face inner conflict. “Oh Mary,” on the other hand, is like coming out of that struggle. It’s when the fighting stops, and you start to understand. The noise fades into silence, and things are accepted. Together, they make a cycle, like old stories about death and new life, trials, and gaining wisdom. Rosetta West has always been a band that likes to explore deep ideas. With these two songs, steps in a journey are made, each one needed for the other.
Oh Mary
These songs are interesting because they don’t give easy answers. “Snake 25” doesn’t end with a big win, and “Oh Mary” doesn’t promise lasting peace. Instead, they talk to each other, with each song reflecting the other. Questions that don’t have simple answers are asked, but you are made to think more deeply. This music wants you to be involved and rewards those who listen carefully, think about its mysteries, and consider its different meanings. Rosetta West has never been for people who just want to listen casually. With these two songs, their skill in making art that is both challenging and beautiful is shown again, inviting listeners to discover themselves.
Finally, “Snake 25” and “Oh Mary” tell one big story. One part shows the trouble and noise, and the other part shows the quiet and peace that come after. To hear only one is to only understand half the story. Together, a complete view is given, showing the band’s skill with mood, meaning, and musical mixing. This blues-rock goes beyond its roots, and elements of psychedelia, which are more than just a style, are added. It’s music that can change you and a way to travel inside yourself and come out changed. And in this journey, Rosetta West is a good guide, leading us through the dark and into the light, one haunting and mesmerizing note at a time.
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