Artist: Mushroomhead
Title: Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children
Genre: Modern Metal
Release Date: 12th November 2010
Label: Megaforce Records
Album Review
Halloween isn’t demonstrated better than eight guys putting on masks and creating hauntingly good metal. MUSHROOMHEAD really pulled a cornerstone these past few years, first debuting with ‘Saviour Sorrow’ and a new vocalist - Waylon - then leaving tons of rumors floating around their future work such as tentative album titles, new masks, and a reappearance of the legendary J-Mann (also known as Jason Popson) for a guest vocal appearance. When the dust settled, the only thing that was dismissed was the J-Mann appearance rumor. But, that still didn’t keep the band from leaving enough of a bait trail for fans to bite. In between 2006 and the release of 2010’s ‘Beautiful Stories,’ the band wrote up a song for the ‘Saw VI’ soundtrack, which possibly hinted at the direction they were going to go in with any future work. Haunting, creepy, and downright their best work, it really set the standard… And then ‘Beautiful Stories’ came along and blew that standard out the water like an atomic bomb.
The album will take some growing and a few listens; it is not typical MUSHROOMHEAD. At least, not at first. The opening track, and first single, ‘Come On’, is possibly the WORST song ever written by them. It’s generic, boring, and not engaging at all. The lyrics seem like they were written by a thirteen year old, with nowhere near the introspection that MUSHROOMHEAD’s usual lyrics live up to, and it is just heavy guitar all the way through. No industrial elements, no change of vocals, no nothing. Not the right foot to begin with at all. But, after that, things get a lot better. Fans will notice first off that the music is MUCH heavier, with guitarist Gravy and bassist Pig Benis leading the parade. Each track has a thick, chugging rhythm that is both catchy and engaging, and sadly at the same time, repetitive. Of course, MUSHROOMHEAD would not be the band they are today with their industrial influences and other experimental touches. Like ‘Saviour Sorrow’, ‘Beautiful Stories’ is a mix of raging aggressors such as ‘Inspirations’ and ‘Your Demise’, complete with vocalist Nothing’s soulful, yet mournful clean vocals and Waylon’s roars and croons.
For those who felt that nothing didn’t get enough voice time on the last album, that is made up for on this one as he dominates the verses. Then there are the softer, piano driven songs to lighten the mood such as ‘I’ll Be Here’ and ‘Do I Know You’, which offer a more humanistic look at the band. Before they never used to do this, but it’s an excellent touch to round out their musical arsenal. There are some new, experimental moments on the album, also. Nothing and the other members recruited their children to lend their vocals at different parts of the album such as ‘Burn The Bridge’. Sometimes they’re random, and sometimes they add a very creepy effect that really brings that title, ‘Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children’, to life. The electronic elements always help distort the vocals, creating echoes and backing beats and ambient soundscapes that are always engaging such as on ‘The Feel’.
There is even a heavy percussion section that drones on for some time on ‘Harvest The Garden’. It’s a one-time thing, but really sets off a mystery towards whether this kind of experimentalism will continue on future MUSHROOMHEAD work; new drumming styles are always engaging and fun. For those who were expecting to hear tracks similar to ‘Your Soul Is Mine’ from the ‘Saw VI’ soundtrack will be sorely disappointed. For those who expected the unexpected, they’ll be pleased. ‘Beautiful Stories’ takes a bit more time to grow on the listeners compared to other albums particularly because it, once again, is something completely different from MUSRHOOMHEAD’S usual style. However, those who felt something was missing from ‘Saviour Sorrow,’ be it with Nothing having more voice on the album or a bit heavier sound, ‘Beautiful Stories’ has all that included. It doesn’t really give any hint to where the band’s direction will take them for the next album, but expect the unexpected. It is, after all, MUSHROOMHEAD!
Tracklist
01. Come On (4:07)
02. Inspiration (3:46)
03. Slaughterhouse Road (3:41)
04. I’ll Be Here (4:36)
05. Burn The Bridge (5:10)
06. Holes In The Void (4:45)
07. Harvest The Garden (4:34)
08. The Harm You Do (4:06)
09. Your Demise (4:21)
10. The Feel (3:50)
11. Darker Days (3:46)
12. Do I Know You (2:46)
Line-up
Jeffrey Nothing - vocals
Waylon - vocals
Gravy - guitars
Pig Benis - bass
Shmotz - keyboards
ST1TCH - turntables, samples, electronics
Skinny - drums
Lil’ Dan - water drums
Website
http://www.mushroomhead.com/site/main
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 9
Total: 9 / 10
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