neptune blood effectively wields chaos in “A Quiet Riot”

neptune blood’s debut EP A Quiet Riot Inside is a four-track release recorded in Limerick City and released on November 26, 2025. The band consists of Ronan Mitchell, Manolis Pates, Shane Serrano, and Damien Moore, all of whom have previous ties to local projects such as Fox Jaw and The Hip Neck Blues Collective. Recorded with producer Ben Wanders (Kneecap, Kingfishr) at Wanderland Recording Studio, the EP channels the 2000s indie/alternative rock framework while allowing variation across its short runtime. In its runtime, melodic guitar-based songwriting appears alongside darker rhythmic passages and more restrained sections, featuring abrupt tonal shifts throughout rather than settling into any singular style. A Quiet Riot Inside functions as an introduction to how neptune blood structures songs, sequence contrast, and approach arrangement without overstatement or excess.

The EP, Track by Track

“Midnight Showing” opens the EP with a repeating guitar riff that powers the track, supported by a firm stride of drum and bass. The vocal stays low and steady in the mix, keeping the same register as additional guitar parts are layered in. These added elements increase the sonic girth without altering the core structure. Rather than relying on jutting contrasts or abrupt transitions, the arrangement gradually builds momentum through accumulation, with texture and repetition playing a central role. Each instrumental aspect remains clearly separated, allowing the track to evolve in density while keeping its overall shape intact.

“Best Laid Plans” adopts a slower, heavier gait and spacious arrangement, with greater space between instrumental entries and a heavier emphasis on tonal processing. Industrial and psychedelic details materialize through effects and percussion choices rather than overt stylistic changes (as airy vocal harmonies flow with fuzzed-out tones). “In Calico” places more weight on a forward-driven bassline and raucous Garage-punk attitude, mixed with dreamy Shoegaze atmosphere, as the lush trumpet glides over without disrupting the composition. The closing performance “Huge If True” has post-rock inspirations in its dynamic rhythms and textural components (pulsating electronic bleeps, lively horns, squelchy guitars, to name a few), although anchored to a consistent melodic centre. Instead of serving as a conclusion, it extends the EP’s ongoing interest in showcasing contrast and sequencing, drawing together elements that appear earlier in the record without resolving them into a single direction.

Behind the EP

A Quiet Riot Inside was recorded with producer Ben Wanders at Wanderland Recording Studio in Limerick City, with the sessions taking place over an extended period rather than a single concentrated block. This slower process is reflected in the EP’s varied arrangements and pacing, with each track retaining a distinct character rather than being shaped toward a uniform sound. Wanders’ production keeps the instrumentation clear and uncluttered, allowing guitar layers, rhythm sections, and occasional brass parts to sit alongside each other without overwhelming the mix. The recording approach rejects heavy studio embellishment, favouring separation and balance so that changes in tone and structure remain easy to follow across the four tracks. The result is a debut EP that reflects both the band’s shared background in the Limerick scene and a deliberate choice to prioritise experimentation over polish or scale.

Across the EP

Over its span, A Quiet Riot Inside moves through a range of arrangements without operating in a fixed structure or settling into a single dominant sound. Each song introduces its own balance of instrumentation and density, with changes in rhythm, texture, and emphasis occurring from track to track rather than within a strict formula. Guitar parts shift between clean, layered passages and heavier sections, while the rhythm section alternates between restrained and uptempo cadence as necessary. These variations are presented without abrupt transitions or overt signposting, allowing differences between tracks to remain clear without feeling disconnected.

The EP’s sequencing places contrasting songs next to one another, highlighting changes in tone and arrangement rather than smoothing them out. Lighter moments sit alongside darker material, and more direct songwriting appears adjacent to tracks that rely more heavily on atmosphere and space. Rather than pointing toward a single direction, the record opts for an open-minded signature, where ideas are introduced, revisited, and adjusted across the runtime. This approach gives A Quiet Riot Inside a sense of continuity, offering a clear view of how neptune blood organise songs, varies instrumentation, and shapes recordings within a short format.

Stream A Quiet Riot on Spotify and Bandcamp, and stay tuned with neptune blood on Instagram.