Review: Mean To You – Zero
Self-Released (December 6th 2025)
Reviewer – Chris O’Connor
I approached ‘Zero‘ expecting a fairly typical Melodic Rock record, but Mean To You quickly dismantle that assumption. Rather than settling into a single lane, the album repeatedly surprises, fusing weighty Classic Rock foundations with flashes of Thrash Metal aggression, unexpected Pop-Punk energy, the subtlety of Progressive Rock, and other harder-to-define elements that resist easy categorisation. It’s an album that constantly shifts beneath your feet, refusing to play by genre rules.
At the heart of Mean To You is Luxembourg multi-instrumentalist Marc Mulles, whose musical DNA appears to draw from an impressively broad spectrum. Echoes of Foo Fighters’ melodic punch sit alongside the metallic heft of Metallica, the progressive darkness of Opeth, the brooding grit of Alice In Chains, and, in places, even the industrial edge of Prong or the muscular intensity of Porcupine Tree at their heaviest. Yet despite these reference points, ‘Zero‘ never feels derivative. In fact, it becomes increasingly difficult to pin down precise influences, as the band consistently defies expectation and avoids being boxed into any single genre.
Musically, the album is unapologetically riff-driven. Grinding guitars form the backbone of the record, supported by thick, crunching bass lines and muscular drum work that propel the songs forward with real grit and momentum. There’s a tangible sense of groove throughout, lending the heavier moments an infectious physicality rather than sheer brute force. Vocally, Marc Mulles delivers a performance that prioritises power and character over acrobatics. His range may not be vast, but it suits the material perfectly, grounding the songs with a raw, direct presence that complements the music’s weight and urgency.
From the opening salvo of ‘Expelled’ – perhaps the closest Mean To You come to straight-up hard melodic rock – through to the fading echoes of album closer ‘Chained’, the quality on display is consistently undeniable. ‘Zero‘ may be a self-released record, but it carries a level of authenticity, confidence, and sheer power that comfortably outshines many releases from fully signed acts. This is a body of work Marc Mulles can, and should, be immensely proud of. Standout moments abound, from the muscular groove of ‘Burden’ and the thunderous drive of ‘Pulsing’, to the cool yet urgent tension that defines ‘Different, Yet Alike’. The epic track brings the album to a fitting close, encapsulating the scale, ambition, and genre-defying spirit that runs throughout ‘Zero‘.
Interestingly, the deeper one delves into ‘Zero‘, the more hidden layers begin to reveal themselves. On repeated listens, hints of Black Metal emerge within the twisted guitar textures, adding an unsettling edge that further complicates the album’s identity. Ultimately, ‘Zero‘ is a remarkably difficult record to quantify or pigeonhole – and in an era where so much music feels neatly categorised and predictable, that sense of defiance is not just refreshing, but genuinely impressive.
Tracklisting:
- Prologue
- Expelled
- Burden
- No Boundaries
- Lies
- The Rights To Feel Free
- Different, Yet Alike
- Backyard
- Zero
- Chained