The Facepaint EP is the debut recording from Audio Mimes, a new four-piece band with members born and raised in the Fort. It is a subtle mixture of several influences, mostly from the 90s rock genre. Musically, the album is more accessible than a lot of music from that era, with less down-tuned guitars and more melody-driven songs, all of them very listenable.  The Audio Mimes lead off this five-tracker with “High on Life,” a song that could be likened to our own former heroes, Jettingham, but with a Tonic influence. The song sets the vibe for the rest of the album. “Bad City” brings a harder rock experience and seems to be heavily influenced by Pearl Jam. Vocalist Anthony Mourey sings with pointed intensity, and the song is a reminder of why the 90s were a helluva good time. 

Standout tracks “Dead” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed” bring more of the same, with “Dead” displaying a Nirvana-meets-Butthole Surfers vibe while “Satisfaction Guaranteed” features some ferocious guitar and hard-hitting lyrics. “Don’t Gimme Dat” showcases the band’s Red Hot Chili Peppers influences and closes out the album in style. 

While the members of Audio Mimes seem to still be in the process of developing their own styles, the band does a good job of paying homage to the plethora of bands that defined the 90s with these five songs. If The Facepaint EP is any indication, we are going to hear a lot more from these guys in the future.