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Review: Men I Trust's 'Equus Caballus' is the band at its best

First came the donkey, and then the horse. 

Canadian indie rock/dream pop outfit Men I Trust released only two studio albums between 2016 and 2024, but woke up in a big way this year, matching that output in just three months with a duo of connected projects in 2025: “Equus Asinus” and “Equus Caballus.” 


“Early in the writing and recording process, we realized we had a collection of songs with distinct energies yet equally meaningful to us,” the band wrote on X in March. “It became clear that we wanted to release them as two separate entities both from the same genus.”

The first was March’s “Equus Asinus” (the scientific name for donkey), a 14-song collection of atmospheric, acoustic-led tunes – immaculately produced, but not the band’s most memorable material. 

Forming its current iteration nine years ago, the trio has never been the most experimental or bold, often filling that necessary yet understated role in the music ecosystem of inoffensive background music that still has artistic merit. 

“Asinus” fit that description to a tee – slow tempos, easy listening, and a soft jazz influence. A solid project, but hardly the groundbreaking material you’d hope for from a group that hadn’t released a studio album in four years. 

Then, in May, “Equus Caballus” (you guessed it – the scientific name for horse) cantered onto the scene. The equestrian naming convention suddenly made sense. On first listen, it’s easy to tell that “Caballus” stands a few hands taller than its predecessor; it’s musclebound, and moves at a faster gait. 

That isn’t to say Men I Trust started making music for your workout playlist. Opener “To Ease You” is closer to 1980s soft pop: mid-tempo with driving drums, a 16th-note bass line, synth chords, and sparkling guitars. 

It’s a theme that holds true throughout the album’s 13 tracks. An obvious comparison is “Tango in the Night”-era Fleetwood Mac’s mix of electronics and classic rock. It's easy to imagine Stevie Nicks or Christine McVie singing over the sonic palettes of tracks such as the opener and “Come Back Down.” 

Jessy Caron’s bouncing bass line in “Ring of Past” brings a city pop feel that’s a fun addition to the band’s sound. And even on less energetic instrumentals, frontwoman Emmanuelle Proulx always has catchy, layered vocal melodies that elevate the entire song. 

Her recognizable, whispery delivery provides a strong through-line for the album as the group drifts through different musical ideas. There’s more variety than usual for Men I Trust on “Caballus” – the second half of the album ups the intensity a bit with head-bopping indie rock cuts such as “In My Years” and “Worn Down” as the keyboards give way to more guitars.  

“Billie Toppy,” a new mix of a 2022 single, is the highlight of the record. Its lightly-distorted, chugging verse riff is an earworm and has more bite than the band ever seemed capable of producing. Still, its chorus opens up into a lush mix of Dragos Chiriac’s shimmering synth pads and reverb-heavy guitars. 

Despite being a bit of a left turn for the band, “Billie Toppy” somehow doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in the tracklist. “Caballus” is a remarkably cohesive listen. 

That’s always been a strength of the group. “We just dabble in so many styles. I feel like our sound is more like a consequence of our workflow,” Chiriac said during a rare interview in 2023. “It always ends up sounding like a Men I Trust song at the end.” 

As a result, “Caballus” serves as a great introduction to Men I Trust. The band is remarkably accessible here – pop songwriting, groovy instrumentation, punchy drums – but the album still fits well into their past discography. And the mixing is simply incredible. It’s a joy to listen to on quality speakers. 

Generally, when a band – especially one that doesn't constantly reinvent itself – releases 27 songs in less than six months, there would be reason to worry about bloat. And while “Equus Asinus” could be drab at times, “Equus Caballus” has Men I Trust sounding more focused than ever as the band gallops through its most productive year of music yet.

At a glance:

Band: Men I Trust
Album: “Equus Caballus” 
Released: May 6, 2025
Length: 13 songs; 41 minutes, 41 seconds 
Members: Emmanuelle Proulx, Jessy Caron, Dragos Chiriac
Best songs: “Billie Toppy,” “Husk,” “Worn Down,” “To Easy You” 
Nearby tour dates: Aug. 14, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington; Aug. 15, Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, Oregon 

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