Record release party

Nick’s Fat City

Friday

8 p.m.

21+

… Record release party

Nick’s Fat City

Friday

8 p.m.

21+

For a band that has been together since 1998 and up until Tuesday only released a five-song EP, titled HgEP, Mercury has earned a loyal local following. And that rests mainly on the broad shoulders of their intense live shows.

After all these years they finally released their first full-length album, properly self-titled Mercury.

“This album has the sound that we want our listeners to know as being Mercury,” said lead singer Justin Morris, “which is the big reason it is self-titled.”

With a driving rock sound from the radio-friendly first track, “Super Hero,” to “River,” the last track, Mercury makes every effort to make each song have its own unique sound, and not have every song simply sound like the one before it.

On Mercury, the band worked with producer Sean McDonald; on the EP they didn’t use a producer. “Sean is the epitome of perfection,” Morris said. “He is extremely meticulous and knows what can be done in the studio, and will work to get it done.” McDonald has worked with his fair share of big-name local bands such as The Clarks, The Buzz Poets and Grapevine. McDonald wants to help Mercury rise to the list of the big name local bands and maybe even further.

“Sean cared about how the record was going to sound,” drummer Adam Sivitz said. “His name is going to be on the album too.”

The production of the full-length album was a major step up from the production of the EP. Morris remembers, “[the EP was] recorded in three days and there was no pre-production work.”

On the other hand, the full-length album took Mercury an entire year to complete and they say it was worth the time and effort, and hope their fans feel the same way.

“This album is really a testament to our fans who have supported us the entire way,” Sivitz said. “It is a ‘thank you’ to all of our fans for their support.”

“This album was worth the wait and is a statement that this band is for real,” Morris said.

On Mercury, the band holds nothing back, filling the tracks with energy and emotion. From the intense sound of “Paralyze,” also featured on the new Pittsburgh X-Files CD, to the emotion of “Hollow Man,” the listener is hit with a driving rock sound that screams to be recognized. Their debut album should bring Mercury into the Pittsburgh rock scene to which they rightfully belong.

If you want a chance to see Mercury live, they’ll be playing a show at Nick’s Fat City on the South Side to celebrate the release of Mercury. Anyone in attendance is sure to expect nothing less than an intense and extremely energetic show.

“Anybody who takes time out of their day to come see us play a show will leave knowing that they got their money’s worth,” Morris said.

And if you aren’t old enough to celebrate Friday night, Mercury will be playing a free all-ages show at Duquesne University with The Buzz Poets, where they will take the stage at about 5 p.m.

Mercury is currently on sale and can be purchased at the Sam Goody on Forbes Avenue or online from the band’s Web site at www.mercuryband.com.