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Mudvayne - The New Game

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Chad Gray – Vocals

Greg Tribbett – Guitar--Backing vocals

Matthew McDonough – Drums

Ryan Martinie – Bass

             

            Back in 1996 a little known band in Illinois converted from a Nirvana cover-band into a rap-metal quartet. The change came because of a lineup change which proved to the start of a bands turning point. The final lineup change came shortly before they stuck a deal with now label Epic Records. Mudvayne became a mainstream name in 2000 when they played the Tattoo the Earth Art and Music Festival Tour. That same year they released their debut album L.D. 50. With the release of the album they had their first hit single “Dig.” L.D. 50 was followed up within a couple of years by The End to All Things to Come. As part of the new album they decided to do something different live as well, they decided to go from using different make-up to dressing like aliens and using the stage names Chüd, Güüg, Rüd, and Spüg. In 2003 a spot on Metallica’s Summer Sanitarium tour emerged as well as single “World So Cold” and the lost of the make-up and costumes. In 2005 the band released their third studio album Lost and Found. A spot on the Ozzfest tour that year followed as did huge singles “Happy?” and “Forget to Remember.” Next came For the People, By the People which were full of demos of tracks that found their way on albums, live versions and alternative versions of tracks. The songs were picked by the fans, but the version by the band. You can view our review of that particular album here: For the People, By the People. After a “supergroup” effort by members of Mudvayne they are back with their forth studio album The New Game. It was due to be released in the summer of ’07, but because of the tour of Hellyeah it was placed on hold until now. “Fish Out Of Water” starts the album off with a very peculiar track. right off the bat it grabs your attention with an odd display musical talent. They quickly add in a low key vocal set that doesn’t fit with the band, but you have to commend them in trying something new. Although they have that low distant set of vocals they also mix in the type we expect from them. The next track is the lead single from the album “Do What You Do.” It reminds me of a few previous tracks from past album and was a very nice pick for a single with a great flowing sound and pretty clear vocals plus the guitar solo they put in didn’t hurt it either. The title track spins off the record third. “A New Game” shoots off like a rocket into the sky with a high energy start. This is a true metal performance with super fast drums, insane guitars, and screaming vocals. old school Mudvayne fans with adore this tune and being the longest track on the album it offers plenty of time to jam out. “Have It Your Way” is another upbeat metal slam and jam fest. It offers up a great guitar lead track with flying vocals. it’s very easily the best of the front 4 songs. We track on with “A Cinderella Story.” It begins with a cool set of guitar picking which flows through the initial set of vocals and drums. It is full of energy and the occasional set of double bass, yet I don’t see it going past the album into the radio or even live scene. The center track “The Hate In Me” caught my attention just by the title. To me it reflected a huge blast of music and raging vocals spitting off an insane set of lyrics. It began just like I expected with an intense musical outburst. “Scarlet Letters” shows the softer side of the band with a melody driven masterpiece. It is breathtaking to hear and should get many plays in the stereo system. It hard to believe something like this could come from such a metal band, but they have been becoming more and more radio friendly the last few efforts which is not entirely a bad thing. “Dull Boy” makes its way onto this album a track that has surfaced a few times including on the album For the People, By the People. “Same Ol’” is nearly 5 minutes of what seems to be a few track smashed into one. Musically it kind of jumps around a bit. “Never Enough” is another slower track, but it still packs a punch. It’s a small sucker punch and I don’t think it gets the job fully done, but it has some cool moments. The album ends with a total assault. The metal resurfaces with an explosion of heart-stopping drums, a mixture of fast and slow guitars, as well as vocals flying all over the place. The lyrics aren’t the strongest set, but for the metal heads who just want to jam the track does its job. Overall the album doesn’t live up to the others. It does have some really great track and “Scarlet Letters” leads everything done the stardom path. The New Game is weak in other spots and the cameo appearance by “Dull Boy” didn’t impress me much. If you are a fan and have the others of course you will get this if you already haven’t. If you are just getting into metal and Mudvayne this isn’t a very good album to start being a fan. I hope the next album gets back into the past and they go through their lyrics with a fine tooth comb.

 

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

My favorite tracks:

Do What You Do, Have It Your Way, Scarlet Letters

 

Track List:

1.      Fish Out Of Water

2.      Do What You Do

3.      A New Game

4.      Have It Your Way

5.      A Cinderella Story

6.      The Hate In Me

7.      Scarlet Letters

8.      Dull Boy

9.      Same Ol’

10.  Never Enough

11.  We The People

 

Website (s): www.mudvayne.com, www.epicrecords.com

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