ALBUM REVIEW: Man Must Explore - Rise
** This review originally appeared in our December 2025 issue. **
“The eight-track composition is a nod to the band’s theme of unity, woven into their entity as a group, but also as a standalone message that serves as a foundation for many of their songs.”
Albany-based alt rock quartet Man Must Explore has made a mark on the Capital Region community with their growing activist movement, The Explorers Guild. So much so that I was surprised to learn that their album Rise, released on November 1, was their debut record.
The eight-track composition is a nod to the band’s theme of unity, woven into their entity as a group, but also as a standalone message that serves as a foundation for many of their songs.
Right off the bat, Man Must Explore sent me on a mission as I listened to the entrancing first track, “Esirewre Ht Egot.” I’ll admit, I figured this was some sort of Latin phrasing that was beyond me. In reality, the title was much more down to earth, simply reading “togE tH erwerisE” or “together we rise” backwards. I won’t give away what the words in the song are, as they reveal a secret code, but I’ll give you a hint: they also aren’t Latin prose.
The song itself is a beautiful prelude that sets the listener up for the voyage ahead. A quick fade out of synthy chords brings us right into the second track, “Tsunami.” Immediately, we are greeted with an angelic harmonizing of band members, followed by lead vocalist Ryan Treen’s emotional, passionate, and vulnerable tone that takes center stage. The guitar helps drive the song home, adding a sort of ‘80s ring to the track as it explores the theme of being stronger than the battle laid out before you – even if its strength feels like that of a tsunami. Each time the word “tsunami” is sung, it’s instantly followed by empowering lyrics that put a positive spin on an otherwise dire situation, e.g., “Perfectly weightless I will be.” Man Must Explore even goes as far as hoping the tsunami will sweep them off their feet. Pretty badass.
“The Man” picks things up even more, getting into the nitty-gritty of the hell that is not being enough for someone. This track feels raw and authentic, as the lyrics pose question after question about the supposed “man” who’s got it all going for him. The drums really drive home the underlying anger behind each question presented.
Track four instantly became a favorite, not even 20 seconds in. For one, the title, “The Greatest Story I’ll Never Read,” caught my attention. As the tempo went from zero to 100, I was hit with the plot of the song just as fast: how to cope with the misery that comes with reminiscing on what could’ve been. The theme goes even further, suggesting that maybe coping is just accepting the fate of the situation and feeling all the feelings, or the lack thereof: “If I were in pain today I would call it agony / I wish I had the words to say I’m numb.” The breakdown right after a huge mid-song instrumental build up is especially pivotal. The stripped-down vocals and clapping along to the beat drives it all home. I can imagine a room full of people singing along, creating that unity Man Must Explore always comes back to.
“Dave, an Extraordinary Television Picture Here” provides a cool little interlude folded within the record. In just 1 minute and 37 seconds, we learn where the band’s name comes from: the audio between the Apollo 15 crew. During the muddled audio, we hear, “As I stand out here in the wonders of the unknown at Hadley, I sort of realize there's a fundamental truth to our nature. Man must explore. And this is exploration at its greatest.” The word “greatest” echoes, its reverberations carrying into the sixth song.
“Hold Onto Me” struck me as very defenseless and heavy-hitting. It is a true testament to Treen’s vocal range. Listening to this catchy, yet powerful tune feels like a long drive on a summer’s night with the windows rolled down, just before a thunderstorm is about to roll in.
“The Long Dark Hallway” leads into a different kind of storm, one with notes of melancholy that vary in intensity as the song swerves through different tempos and key changes. I can’t help but imagine someone literally running down a long dark hallway thinking they’ve reached the end, before the door to the outside disappears again and again. I felt out of breath just keying in on lyrics like “Turn me sideways / I think it's getting hotter in this long dark hallway / I feel you getting farther from me.”
The full-circle moment at the end of Rise is “Together We Rise.” Despite the similarities with the first track, this one offers something completely different. The tone has shifted and it feels like we have reached the end of a simulation where the listener must decide if they will continue the voyage into the unknown in search of something better, or let the past weigh them down and prevent them from exploring. The latter is what Man Must Explore is hoping you will choose.
Man Must Explore’s debut album Rise is available on all major streaming platforms. They are also scheduled to play at Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen in Albany on December 19.
