Mad Sneaks delivers a raw, visceral portrait of life in new single “Dirty Blood”
Mad Sneaks has never been afraid to expose itself, but with "Dirty Blood," the band seems to go even further: delivering a raw, visceral, and uncomfortably honest portrait of an intimate chaos that many avoid facing. The new single, which blends heaviness, melody, and emotional density, carries the essence of a grunge reborn in the Brazilian underground, but updated with layers of vulnerability and critique. It is in this terrain between the aggressive sound and the fragmented poetry of the lyrics that Mad Sneaks reaffirms its identity. More than a song, "Dirty Blood" is an artistic manifesto that provokes, challenges, and paves the way for a deep dive into the band's current phase. In this exclusive interview, the trio discusses the narrative behind their latest releases, the influences that shaped their trajectory, and the next steps towards the new album.
From the latest singles—Biocide and Dirty Blood to Roses, Shots and Fire and Coma—we perceive an intense mix of heaviness, social commentary, and also more personal nuances. How do you see this sequence of releases as telling a narrative about the band's current identity and the paths they intend to explore from now on? This is the true essence of art as a whole. Any form of artistic expression needs to evoke some kind of sensation, whether in the creator or the consumer. Magic happens when each person has their own individual journey with each work. It all depends on the emotional state of the moment, and only after that comes the catharsis that ultimately becomes the soundtrack of our lives. Each release is meticulously chosen to complement each other, which sometimes, if analyzed separately, may not be clearly perceived, but if we listen to the work as a whole, this connection is clear, from the themes to the timbres of the instruments. This is how we know how to do it, this is precisely how we believe and will continue to do it.
Your sound straddles '90s grunge, alternative rock, and introspective elements. Which artists or albums shaped the musical direction you embrace today? Our sound draws heavily from '90s grunge, but also from several other musical styles that have shaped our lives. Bands like Nirvana, Silverchair, Social Distortion, Helmet, Seether, Alice in Chains, Avenged Sevenfold, and Foo Fighters were fundamental, not to mention some more recent work that explores different dynamics than the usual. But in the end, we always try to take these references and transform them into something uniquely our own.
Collaborating with renowned artists and receiving approval for tracks like "Something in the Way" demonstrates your strong recognition within the scene. What role have these partnerships played in the band's artistic evolution? Working personally with artists like Page Hamilton (Helmet) is surreal because you simply find yourself in a place you never thought you'd reach. When could the Amaury Johns of 2010/2012 have dreamed that the same person/band he watched/listened to so often at home would one day be in the same room with him?! That was, and still is, absolutely inconceivable. We also worked with Jack Endino, who is deeply connected to the Seattle grunge scene, producing practically every major band that came out of that city. Charles Cross (RIP), who was also connected to the same scene, gave us compliments that will simply never be erased from our memories. These kinds of situations truly make it all worthwhile. Even if our "big day" never comes, these moments make up for everything.
How do you balance dark atmospheres with melodic or vulnerable moments—especially when it comes to soft parts or dynamic contrasts in the songs? This dynamic is an important part of the famous Seattle Sound. It's not just about creating tension or melody, but about how light and shadow can play out in the same space. Sometimes the music needs to be a punch in the face and sometimes an unexpected hug. And sometimes you can feel both in the same piece. We like to let the dynamic emerge naturally between us, as if the final piece could breathe on its own.
Thinking about the next steps: what can fans expect from Mad Sneaks in upcoming releases and the full album? Are there any themes or concepts you plan to delve deeper into? The full album will be more cohesive, but still full of contrasts: social themes, introspection, chaos, and beauty. We're old-school, and listening to the full album in the correct order makes even more sense than just listening to individual songs or singles. We know the new generation doesn't have much patience for this way of consuming music, but we need to be true to what we believe in. Fans can expect, above all, our deepest truth: we never do anything thinking only about pleasing the masses. This album is the transparency of our souls, full of intensity, but also moments of vulnerability. The idea is for each song to be an experience that challenges, provokes, moves, and connects with the listener. And for those who can feel this with us, welcome to the Mad Sneaks family. We are Mad Sneaks, and we make noise!
“Dirty Blood”: https://onerpm.link/249138098164
