Album Spotlight : The Earth Pushed Back

  Have Mercy is one of those bands that hit home straight from the minute I heard them. Their infectious sound and powerful lyrics will always bring me back to a place of solemn and sad nostalgia but only for a moment. After this moment of true and pure grief I realize how far I’ve come and how deeply my roots have grown both as a music lover and as a person. Their album “The Earth Pushed Back” was released on May 31st 2013 just a few years before my first Warped tour, my first Rise Against Concert, my first mosh pit and so many other formative moments in my life. I was going through a lot at the time and so this is my own love letter to this genre and album. 

   The album opens up with the track “Level Head”. Which has a call to action beginning that still gets me ready to participate in the lyrics and experience that is this album. This track as well as the album has a lot of reverb on it which I have always felt gives it that empty parking lot feel as well as you feel as though you are actually there during a live recording or at a show. It gives the album a personal and friendly vibe to it. It’s as if you are having a late night conversation with a long time friend. 

   The songs that follow “Ancient West” and “Hell” give off similar notions. However, “Hell” is a little more twinkly almost paying homage to Midwest Emo pioneers “American Football”. Don’t get that confused though, “Have Mercy” is still very much its own unique sound as the rest of the tracks on this album have influences from genres such as punk, pop punk, and even some hardcore undertones. 

   The last two tracks I’d  like to mention are ones that I hold near and dear to my heart. “Let’s Talk About Your Hair” has lyrics of loss of love. Its lyrics can also be seen as loss in general. When you’ve been in a relationship whether it be romantic or other wise that has been falling apart for a while and both parties have felt it but are afraid to say it because neither wants to feel the hurt it is going to explode at some point. To me that is what this song is about. It’s the explosion of emotion asking why did we even start if this wasn’t right for so long. The reality is that’s life. It’s unexpected and unpredictable. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. However just because it doesn’t work out doesn’t throw away all the good times you may have had with that person. It doesn’t make you either party less of a person or make anyone bad. It just means it didn’t work out. 

   The closing track “When I sleep” leaves you with that tinge of hope. “You were the best thing that I ever had and we were not that bad” reminds us of all the good things you had with that person. It reminds us that that you can always find good in your life. There is always beauty in the struggle. The beauty before that struggle is also something that can’t be taken from you. 

  Overall this album is one of the deepest albums I’ve heard to this day. I will always hold it near and dear to my heart. Also look out for “Have Mercy” newest album coming out August 29th 2025 titled “the loneliest place I’ve ever been”. The production on their newest two singles off that album so far are fantastic. The quality is absolute perfection. So go give them both a listen! For now keep on taking it one more step at a time! Love you all !

 

• Ted One More Step Music Collective