SINGLE REVIEW: Near Fall – Adonai
Near Fall have always been about propulsion. Whether it’s the muscular churn of their riffs or the sweat-soaked honesty in Greg Marnik’s voice, this band doesn’t play from a place of hesitation—and “Adonai” continues that tradition with a heavyweight punch. It’s a lean, sharp hard rock track with the sort of drive that doesn’t need bells and whistles to hit hard. The drums thump like they’re echoing down warehouse corridors, the guitars are dense but surgical, and there’s an undercurrent of punk grit just beneath the surface. But it’s Marnik’s delivery that carries the flame—urgent, melodic, and just theatrical enough to elevate the track without losing the rawness that grounds it.
What’s particularly refreshing is how “Adonai” feels both rooted and restless. There are obvious influences in the DNA—80s metal bravado, SoCal-style punk energy, and some alt-rock accessibility—but nothing about it plays like pastiche. Instead, the band folds their inspirations into something leaner, meaner, and distinctly their own. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t rely on nostalgia or trickery to feel impactful. It’s just good, honest hard rock with a melodic spine and a real sense of pulse.
There’s also something quietly clever about dropping a hard-hitting track while teasing a stripped-down, acoustic version for the road. It speaks to a band not just grinding, but thinking—curious about how their songs breathe in different spaces. “Adonai” might be built for loud rooms and bruised speakers, but there’s enough songwriting depth to suggest that when Near Fall say they’re bringing something “smooth” and intimate on tour, they mean it. This isn’t just about volume. It’s about connection—and this single nails both.
