Single – Mind Control
Release Date – 2nd July 2026
Review by Linda McDermott
Some songs come together quickly, others take years to find their place. Mind Control by The Heat Inc has certainly taken the scenic route.
Although released on 2nd July, parts of the song have been around for more than a decade. The chorus melody and lyrics date back as far as 2014, while the riff and verse came from an unreleased track called Belacqua, written by vocalist Jon Dodd and bassist Nico Rigot when they were in a previous band together. What began as two unfinished ideas eventually clicked into place with the addition of Marco’s vision and became Mind Control.
Jon explains that the lyrics didn’t fully come together until the band were in the studio. That’s when he imagined a ringmaster leading unhappy tourists around a strange carnival, where the exhibits are the lovers you’ve known and perhaps wronged in the past. The chorus became a warning to anyone tempted to step inside.
The Heat Inc. have always balanced heavy moments with melody, something the band see as an important part of who they are. Rather than choosing one over the other, they aim to bring both together naturally in their music.
The band’s songwriting has also become more instinctive over the years. With a better understanding of what works, ideas now come together more easily, allowing them to explore gentler, more melodic moments without losing their intensity.
Mind Control isn’t about reinventing what The Heat Inc. do. It’s another step forward for a band that knows its own sound and continues to build on it.
Band members
Jon Dodd, vocals
Marco Simoncelli, guitars
Nico Rigot, bass
Maurizio Vitale, drums
The single is instantly recognisable as The Heat Inc. They have a distinctive sound that they have honed over the years, and Jon’s vocals are a big part of that. There’s even a hint of Bowie in there, which really appeals to me.
The song kicks off with a distorted, fuzzy introduction before Jon’s voice takes hold and drives it forward. It has a great foot tapping backbeat that builds nicely throughout, making it impossible not to get caught up in it and play it on repeat. The band have this power behind their music making it linger in your head long after you’ve played it, and that’s the true strength of a good song and this is one of them.
It’s been three years since I saw The Heat Inc live and I’ve loved what they do ever since. I can easily imagine Mind Control fitting seamlessly into their live set and, if anything, it has left me wanting to hear it played live with all the atmosphere and energy that would bring.
Video
Mind Control (lyric video)
Socials
https://www.facebook.com/TheHeatInc
https://www.instagram.com/theheatinc
Bandcamp
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