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MUSHROOMHEAD UNIVERSAL RECORDS  Many things have changed since Mushroomhead last recorded a full-length album of original music. Lineup changes, a major label deal, national tours, a stint on Ozzfest... The result? Mushroomhead delivers its strongest and most affecting work to date; medium to heavy fare that alternates between pummeling, challenging and exhilarating. Though far more accessible than earlier efforts, XIII remains rooted in the experimental spirit with which MRH began. The songs seem like aural paintings; musical texture and color applied with brushes, palette knives, fingers and kitchen sinks. And, as always, the end result seems more orchestrated than produced, Mr. Mushroomhead’s Opus. With eight contributors, there’s always the chance for overworking a piece. But like any good artist or painter, producer and band founder Skinny (drums) seems to sense just when to pull back and when to slap more paint down; when to finesse and when to pour the entire bucket. Two tracks, “Sun Doesn’t Rise” and “Nowhere To Go,” are produced by/with Johnny K (Disturbed, Finger Eleven) and the album in its entirety was mixed by Matt Wallace (Faith No More), a far more natural and obvious collaborator for the band than K. With the quantity of instruments, layers, vocals and samples on the album, the quality and crispness astound. No mud to be found here. Musically it is worth noting the album is more guitar-driven with a reduced use of keyboards as compared to earlier works. Here, the keyboards are accenting instead of carrying. Vocally, it’s a step forward for both singers. J Mann’s vocals are more forceful, relying on the natural aggression of his voice rather than odd syncopation and nu-metal rapping. This allows for an even greater contrast to Jeffrey Nothing’s vocals, richer and more inspired than ever. No longer lost in the mix, Nothing's vocals stand front and center on XIII, and the juxtaposition of their voices has never been more successful. Clocking in at just under an hour, XIII is filled to the brim with 13 cohesive yet distinct tracks. Want singular brutality? Try J Mann vehicle, "The Dream Is Over," with guest vocalist Jens Kidman of Meshuggah. Looking for something less aggressive? Try Jeffrey Nothing harmonizing with himself and guest vocalist Devon Gorman on "One More Day." "Nowhere To Go" comes in at near crescendo and stays there, "Destroy The World Around Me" is an impassioned epic over eight minutes in length, "Thirteen" is a prairie campfire on acid before it dives into a revolutionary cover of Seal's "Crazy..." Not tied down by convention, or perhaps laughing in the face of it, there's something here for everybody (or is that Nothing here for everybody?). XIII is as close to a perfect album as I've heard in years... review by scott sisti |
