Mutoid Man - War Moans

This album’s more uptempo and aggressive approach to Sabbath-influenced stoner metal is one I’ve had the pleasure of wrapping my head around since it came out earlier this year. Rather than droning on with the same slow, fully-baked chug most stoner metal bands do, the Converge side-project approaches it with a more modern production arsenal and a killer knack for catchy song-writing. Rather than slipping into the typicalities of the genre, Mutoid man brings low-tuned, heavy guitars, fast-paced drumming, and structural adventurousness to the album and makes something surprisingly unique. Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite track as the album is an unbroken string of one impressively constructed song after another. Each instrumental part (vocal included) is tailored tightly to fit the songs without fray hairs of one member or another drifting off course or trying to outshine the rest of the band to the song’s detriment. Even the more ballad-y closer “Bandages” I didn’t expect to go so well actually finished the album off nicely. I also didn’t expect to hear Chelsea Wolfe on this thing, or her Gothic presence on “Wreck and Survive” to actually fit in nicely where it was placed. Aside from being a short album and me wanting more because it’s so consistently kick-ass, I can’t really find much to complain about here (not that I want to complain).Very well done Mutoid Man.

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