Tuesday, 4 August 2026

Sludgers Mean Green drop new single "Employee Of The Month" and a ripping live cover video of "War Pigs"


Following lead single "Wasteland", Mean Green have just dropped "Employee Of The Month", a crusher the band hold close to their hearts.

The band states, "[former bandmate] Alex wrote this one. It meant a lot to him and us. Unfortunately he’s not playing with us for the time being, but he may return one day. This one goes out to him."


Adds guitarist/vocalist Jake Helms, "The solo that starts at 4:20 (nice) has a good story behind it. While recording the album we were away from home for a week. On the tail end of recording, one night my girlfriend who lived with me called me up and said she was leaving and taking my dog with her. The solo you hear in the song is the first take of the session the next morning straight off the dome, she’s gone but I kept my fucking dog (his name is Riff). So thanks for the inspiration behind that one Emily.”

War Pigs

Not ones to rest easy, in addition to Castle's new riffs Mean Green have also just dropped a live recording of an extra nasty cover of "War Pigs".


While on tour and wanting to pay tribute to the late Ozzy, the band put together a sludged-out take on "War Pigs". The last piece of the puzzle fell into place when roadie Logan Felder, also of North Carolina blackened crust punks VRAS, hopped on vocals, and lightning in a bottle was captured.

Mean Green is a three-piece sludge outfit with all the subtlety of a rusted-out square body with glass packs - and the fortitude of a rabid opossum in heat. Armed with riffs as thick as a bowl of cold grits, the band blends crushing sludge, classic rock swagger, and raw Southern grime into a live show built to hit hard and leave a lasting mark.


Mean Green released their self-titled debut album to wide acclaim in 2023, and are proud to present their sophomore LP, “Castle”.

Fusing the crushing weight of High on Fire and Sleep with the gritty, blues-soaked swagger of ’70s rock acts like Foghat, Cactus, and Cream, Mean Green deliver the heavy goods on “Castle”.

Leading the charge is single "Wasteland", a ripper of a track where crushing tone and gravel-chewing vocals set the foundation for a dark, psychedelic journey. Notes guitarist and vocalist Jake Helms, “I wrote this when I was tripping on acid watching 2001 a space odyssey on a broken tv with no volume".

Get lost in the Wasteland on July 23rd and get stoked for the full album "Castle" out August 14th.

Second single "Employee Of The Month" drops Friday, July 31st.

Mean Green will also be headlining the Wicked Doom Festival August 29th in Worcester, Massachusetts alongside Sundrifter, Worshipper, Üga Büga, and more.


Mean Green - Employee Of The Month (single)

Single out July 31st
Album "Castle" out August 14th
Self-released (Digital, Vinyl)
Boone, North Carolina
Mastered by Steven Raets
FFO: Weedeater, Buzzoven, Toke, Telekinetic Yeti, Bongzilla

Castle album credits:

Jake Helms - Guitar, Vocals
Alex Wierback - Bass
James Matthews - Drums

Mean Green is:

Jake Helms - Guitar, Vocals
Cole Franklin - Bass
James Matthews - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Castle (3:45)
2. Sludge Puppy (4:33)
3. Employee Of The Month (6:23)
4. Wild Bill (4:30)
5. Slack Jaw (5:26)
6. Cyclone (5:01)
7. Wasteland (5:16)

Links:

Facebook | Instagram | BandCamp

Thanks to Good Boy PR for the details.