Myriad Things – have Released The Blistering New Single ‘Sanctuary’

Myriad Things return following their two highly successful 2022 singles, ‘Let It Come Down’ and ’10,000 Miles Away’. New single ‘Sanctuary’ finds the band taking a giant step forward in sound and production, the result is a blistering piece of 70’s prog rock that nods to heritage but feels entirely contemporary and vital. Previous singles won the band acclaim with press and fans alike. Alongside selling out Belfast’s iconic venue The Empire, previous singles caught the sharpened ears of taste makers such as Hot Press, RTE Entertainment, Chordblossom and Rock N Load. On ‘Sanctuary’ the band further expand their sound and consciousness, over the swirling psychedelia Jonnie addresses themes of existential pressures and the desire to escape, drawing on Buddhist and Taoist philosophies to help try and make sense of a world that never seems to switch off.

Forming in 2018 the band are made up of Jonnie Rice on guitar and vocals, Brendy Doran on bass and Jimmy McCrory on drums. Shortly after their first foray out onto the live scene, the world fell into lock down, but the band tended the flame, meeting when possible to dial amps to ten and put their instruments to the test. Once the world re-opened singles and a slew of live dates followed cementing the band as one of the most exciting voices in their genre.

In search of some clarity, Jonnie decamped to a cabin in the Welsh woods, in the isolation and detachment he found inspiration that led to a prolific period of writing. ‘Sanctuary’ was born of this session. The track opens with and is driven by a seemingly endless flurry of notes that come courtesy of Jonnie’s Fender Strat and delay pedal. It’s not long before Jonnie’s vocals join acting as a shamanic call amidst the frenetic instrumental. Brendy’s bass is a lead instrument in itself, moving between frantic hammer-ons and melodic passages that counter point the vocals. Jimmy’s drums are the anchor for our sonic journey, adding colour and accents to sections. Jonnie says that the time spent in the cabin and the ‘hermit at the end of his tether’ lifestyle directly informed the lyrics. 

Myriad Things go far beyond any genre tropes, making it almost a disservice to refer to them as 70’s rock/prog. The influence is there and strong, but the band continue to stretch for and reach new heights both in songwriting and sound. The production here, by Neal Calderwood of Manor Park, is massive, fully capturing the gargantuan sound the band make, while still creating space for conscious to wander in. Myriad Things bring a contemporary approach to a genre, dragging it kicking and screaming into 2025, and in doing so send up a sonic flare that is sure to draw old and new fans a like to their call.

Myriad Things – Sanctuary (Spotify Link)