Maneskin has gone a long way since breaking out via their stint with X-Factor Italy in 2017. And while “Beggin’” definitely put them on the world music map with almost a billion-and-a-half streams to its credit since, the band has been steady in proving that they’re more than just a one-hit-wonder band.

The band is already four albums deep, proving they’re a deluxe party-rock-making machine with attitude and way beyond, erm, “Beggin’.”

One doesn’t have to understand Italian to know that Maneskin’s album “Teatro d’ira – vol. 1” rocked. That album also included the song “Zitti E Buoni” (keep quiet and be good) which won them the 2021 Eurovision Contest, as well as “Coraline” and the heavy-riffin’ “Lividi Sui Gomiti” and “I Wanna Be Your Slave” to show the world that Italy’s best rock import to date ain’t no one-trick pony.

And sure enough, when the band released their latest album, “Rush!” and the more recent expanded edition, “Rush! Are You Coming?” Maneskin lead vocalist Damiano David, bassist Victoria De Angelis, guitarist Thomas Raggi, and drummer Ethan Torchio are proving that they’re just getting to the good stuff.

On this lengthy record, immediately jumping at us is the upbeat “Gossip” with its singing guitar solo provided by former Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello.  By this time, it's proven that Maneskin has a knack for hooks underneath all that glam-rock sheen up top (check out the louder-than-loud opener “Honey (Are You Coming?). But they went the extra mile for their latest by tapping Max Martin and Rami Yacoub (as well as producers such as Captain Cuts, Fabrizio Ferraguzzo, Mattman & Robin, Lostboy, Sly) to add poppier sounds and ear-tweaking melodies. And the resulting “Baby Said” is a fine example of Maneskin’s new mainstream-ready rock sound.  

There’s a lot of those here, including the pulsating bass intro of “Mamamia” (provided by resident sexpot-cum-bassist Victoria De Angelis) and the Chili-Peppers flavored funky clean guitar tones that open “Supermodel,” to their power ballad turn on “The Loneliest” and the long-distance-affair song “Timezone.” Those who prefer a groovin’ riff would approve of “Own My Mind” and the close-to-combusting rock of “Gasoline,” as well as the sassy “Bla Bla Bla.”

When rock music is giving way to other music styles in the mainstream, it’s good that a young band like Maneskin is around to represent rock and roll. Lead singer Damiano David said in a recent interview that “it’s undeniable that we have our little influence (on listeners today). I think what we did is not to bring rock into the mainstream, but bring it into discussion again,” adding “there’s a lot of artists now that is (bringing all these) elements into (the) music, we don’t think it’s because of us, it’s just the natural development of music and we’re lucky to be at the right place at the right moment to be doing what we’re doing.”

“I think what we really want to do is bring the excitement and the freedom in music,” said De Angelis. Adding that at this point in their wild ride, “now that we have the opportunity, we don’t want to waste it in any way by worrying too much about what we do, and not have to follow the rules of the market, just do what you want and be yourself and believe in it.”

And on that end, Maneskin does good.

As Damiano said about doing rock music. “There’s no rules to it.”