I have always hated the term Nu-Metal and I am
thrilled that it very rarely is used these days when comparing bands in
the heavier genres. Now the Nu-Metal term is dead and buried and most of
the bands who rode the wave have also drowned in the birth of EMO and re-birth
of traditional and thrash metal genres. Thankfully some bands outlasted
the stigma that went along with the genre, bands like Slipknot, Korn, Static-X,
Linkin Park and Mudvayne
have been among the fortunate to continue on with a highly successful career.
Mudvayne’s new album 'The New Game' was originally put on hold in
the summer of 2007, due to vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett
touring with Hellyeah. Following the tour, Mudvayne reunited and began recording
the album with producer Dave Fortman who’s worked with the likes of
Superjoint Ritual, Otep as well as on both of Evanescence's multi-platinum
selling albums, The Open Door and Fallen. If the name sounds familiar to
you, then think back to the early nineties and American hard rockers Ugly
Kid Joe… Dave was the bands guitarist! ‘The New Game’
is Mudvayne's fifth studio release and unfortunately it doesn’t offer
the listener anything new at all! I mean, if you are a huge Mudvayne fan
then you will probably love it no matter what I say but as a metal listener
to me it’s just typical Mudvayne, there are a couple of cool tracks
but for the most part, it seems to me that they are just going through the
motions. ‘Have It Your Way’ points out the political shortcomings
of the Bush administration, and let’s face it if you have heard one
political song aimed at everything Bush did wrong then you have heard them
all! ‘The Hate in Me’ continues the same sentiments to ‘Have
It Your Way’, it is a good song to bang your head to, but it's still
not worth writing home about. The album opens up with one of the strongest
songs showcased ‘Fish out of Water’, the opening riff had me
hooked instantly much the same as was with ‘Determined’ on the
‘Lost and Found’ album. I was impressed with some of the instrumentals
and how well they maintain that signature Mudvayne sound; I was not awed
by the lack of multiplicity from McDonough’s drum kit. If you’ve
ever seen pictures of it, you know just how sic it is, little good that
did on this album as he spends much of the album overshadowed by his band
mates. Tribbett has moments of strong guitar work, but that’s few
and far between; the solos are short and there are no epic opening moments,
expect for the first track. The first time through the album, I thought
this isnot a bad album. There was a healthy balance of Mudvayne grind, coupled
with that “old school rock”, but the more the more I listened
to it, it began to sound like a page right off of Hellyeah! That sadly spoiled
the experience greatly for me. You might care that there is a “game”
based around their album. If you purchase this derelict disc, you get a
free access card to play a murder mystery on the band’s official website.
There are some cool prizes: lifetime membership to the fan club or a guitar.
There is also another album due out in the latter half of 2009. So after
this album fails, there’s “new” work waiting in the wings.
Maybe, this time, it won’t be 11 tracks of b-sides!
Fish Out Of Water
Do What You Do
A New Game
Have It Your Way
A Cinderella Story
The Hate In Me
Scarlet Letters
Dull Boy
Same Ol'
Never Enough
We The People
Rating: 40
Reviewed By: Cameron Edney
- http://www.myspace.com/insideout666ints |
