I need to stop judging CD covers before I listen to them. First impressions of seeing this CD sleeve was some kind of crazy metal band with detailed artwork. As I read the inside of the cover I began to realise this wasn’t going to be the case. Banjo, Mandolin, Train Whistle, Harmonica, and Jews Harp will give you a little bit of a taster of what to come. For some reason the idea of a metal band wasn’t in my head anymore. Band Marino, a 5 piece band from Orlando, Florida has released their debut album and is looking to collect some fans along the way.

I can say this album is very….different? Bizarre? Knowing that Band Marino has included so many unusual instruments makes this album ‘The Sea and the Beast’ sound peculiar before evening listening to it.

Sitting on edge with what to expect from this band, sleek, indie guitar riffs, quick drum fills and high hat rhythms introduce the first track ‘American Patriot’ I think the only thing I didn’t enjoy when listening to this track was Bond’s vocals. He sounded like he was struggling to hit some keys which turned it whiney. Slipping in and out Mandolin riffs and great harmonica rhythms in each song leads to the shortest track on the album at 53 seconds ‘Elephants are grey (Elephants are blue). The song title is strange enough but hearing the track couldn’t get any stranger. Band Marino bizarrely sings about elephants being blue when they live in the zoo. Hmm..,.I’m starting to worry about this band but at the same time I’m impressed with their originality.

Throughout ‘The Sea and the Beast’ you can hear all the string instruments, unusual lyrics and the hair that stand on the back of your neck harmonies. You can clearly picture every story from every song in your head which makes you appreciate Band Marino even more as most tracks from other bands I’ve listened to doesn’t do that to me. It wouldn’t surprise me if Band Marino’s secret was that they were Rednecks from the suburbs of America as their music portrays that and gives you that impression.

It can be fair to say that this band has impressed me more than I thought they would but I probably won’t listen to them again. I’ll say to you, give them a listen because they are good at what they do. Band Marino are just not my cup of tea.