Mushroomhead – Call The Devil
Mushroomhead – Call The Devil
Napalm Records
Release Date: 09/08/2024
Running Time: 61:07
Review by Beth Morait
9.5/10
Mushroomhead are a band that I’ve kind of loosely followed from the sidelines. They were set to headline an ill-fated festival that I was going to be at a few years back that ended up not happening. I was a little gutted about that, because I was looking forward to seeing them on stage and finding out more about them. Having been somewhat out of the loop of reality recently, I didn’t even know this new album was on the way (my bad). So, it’s time to make up some lost time, give it a spin, and tell you what it’s all about.
From the outset, this album grabbed my attention. The Alternative, Avant-garde Metal that Mushroomhead create is right up my street, and a perfectly unhinged soundtrack for life! Opening track, ‘Eye To Eye’ punches right between the eyes, and it’s impossible not to move to it. I’ve been blasting this one loud in my car whilst doing my mumsy duties this week (despite the funny looks from my stereotypical teenagers in the back seat, dying a little bit inside because mum is having a good old bop)!
The album continues in this way, with the next track ‘Fall in Line’ blistering through heavy as hell, crunching guitar riffs, bullet accurate rhythms, and epic growls (but with the addition of female vocalist Jackie LaPonza adding in the cleans). It’s angry and frenetic, and literally just makes me want to lose my shit.
‘Emptiness’ brings the pace down a little, to more of a Gothic infused ballad, but still with a chunky, full-on chorus.
The press release describes this release as ‘cinematic,’ and it really is. There’s so many twists and turns of musical styles in here, and it’s as theatrical as it is exploratory. I’d love to see this album performed live in its entirety. It would be as much a piece of performance art as it would be music.
Mushroomhead have fun playing with some very theatrical keys on a couple of tracks, too, which adds an extra dimension to the sound. Notably on my favourite track of the album, ‘Decomposition.’ This starts with a circus-style soundtrack, then launches into some chunky ‘Old-time musical-hall’ sinister melodies. This reminds me of some of my favourite tracks from bands such as Avatar and Ward XVI. It’s quirky, but masterfully managed, with the composition being the ringmaster in the circus of the song. I love it.
In fact, I love the whole album. There’s only one song that I’m just not digging, and that’s ‘Grand Gestures.’ I just don’t get the same feeling from it as I do the rest of the album. But, that said, it doesn’t take away from the overall pleasure of this record. And the quality of the mixing and mastering here makes it even more of a lovely listen. That’s down to Matt Wallace (Faith No More, 3 Doors Down) on mixing, and he’s done a sterling job! There’s nothing not to like about this album really. Good, solid, and current, which is really all one can ask for. Give it a spin, you won’t be disappointed.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Eye To Eye
02. Fall In Line
03. Emptiness
04. We Don’t Care
05. UIOP (A Final Reprieve)
06. Prepackaged
07. Decomposition
08. Grand Gesture
09. Hallelucination
10. Hideous
11. Torn In Two
12. Shame In A Basket
13. Doom Goose
LINE-UP:
Steve Rauckhorst – Vocals
Scott Beck – Vocals
Jackie LaPonza – Vocals
Dave Felton – Guitar
Joe Gall – Guitar
Ryan Farrell – Guitar, Bass, Keys
Aydin Kerr – Drums, Percussion
Robert Godsey – Drums, Percussion
Steve Felton – Drums, Percussion, Keys, Vocals
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