Bionic Sloth’s From the Other Side is a spirited mix of rock-and-roll energy, cool vibes, and politically charged anthems. The band’s lead singer is M-A’s very own science teacher Lance Powell. “The most fun part is just watching it all come together piece by piece,” Powell said. The album blends personal reflection with community engagement to offer something for every listener.
The standout track “Wanderlust” is a moving collaboration with features from some of Powell’s former students, giving the song an undeniable sense of community. “There’s horns, a student named Ryann Barnes [sings] on it, and my friend Scott does this amazing solo at the end,” Powell said. The combination of youthful voices with the band’s sound captures such a powerful vibe and adds to the overbearing feeling of community within struggles, such as COVID-19, which is when the songs in the album were created.
Ryann Barnes, one of Powell’s former students who graduated from M-A in 2023, added some backup vocals to the album. “He’s just a kind, joyous person,” Barnes said about Powell. “When you have a teacher that’s passionate about something that you’re also passionate about it’s really fun to have that be something you can talk about.”
This album isn’t scared to highlight heavier topics, such as identity and self-discovery. Tracks like “Something New” and “From the Other Side” speak out against the resistance against political issues, such as new presidential elections or the struggle against political power. Powell’s contemplative vocals urge listeners to question the world around them and continue through hardships: “The people are doin’ what they do with the resilience of one thousand generations behind / Ours too is gonna push on through,” he sings. These songs bring a sense of persistence and community, reminding us that rock music can still be a force for change.
The album also gives room for quieter, solitary moments. Tracks like “Miracles and Mysteries” explore personal journeys, such as facing struggles with slower, more heartfelt melodies that balance the album’s energetic rock anthems.
“Miracles and Mysteries” also give way for quieter, more solitary moments. This song explores the emotional toll of resistance and the power of community bonding, with slower, more heartfelt melodies that balance the album’s energetic anthems of independence and defiance. Whether rallying against society’s challenges such as COVID or reflecting on the small, intimate acts that help us stay connected, the album speaks to both community and personal struggle.
Powell’s favorite moment was “just seeing it all come together into a final product that I never would have imagined.” In “From the Other Side,” the band showcases a chaotic blend of diverse styles and powerful messages that together create the rare combination of heartfelt emotion with irreverent, rebellious political spirit.
This album balances fiery anthems with more quiet reflective moments that really hit home.
