Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Mudvayne - The End of All Things to Come - reviewed by: Alcohollica

Track Listing1. Silenced 2. Trapped in a Wake of a Dream 3. Not Falling 4. (Per)Version of a Truth 5. Mercy, Severity 6. World So Cold 7. The Patient Mental 8. Skyring 9. Solve Et Coagula 10. Shadow of a Man 11. 12:97:24:99 12. The End of All Things to Come 13. A Key to Nothing

Being a Mudvayne fan, I find it unfortunate that these guys often get lumped in with a wave of new and unispired bands that are just full of gimmicks and can't play good music. Such is not the case with Mudvayne, four talented musicians from Peoria, IL. They can be a hard listen and many would be quick to dismiss them as a typical nu-metal band that just likes to turn the distortion up to 10 and scream about the end of the world.

But, Mudvayne are distinctly different in that they have been labelled something besides a Slipknot ripoff. Mudvayne carries the label of math-metal. While the idea wasn't preconceived, the band has admitted to working around odd time signatures, with stop-start riffs and intricate drum beats backboned by grooving bass and vocals which go from melodic to to guttural, primal rage scream in the blink of an eye.

And lyrically, although this album might put the notion into your head that this album is just another disc whining about an apocalypse, the songs range from struggles with a hypocritical society telling you who and what you should be (Silenced) to the misinformation constantly given among media and such ((Per)Version of a Truth) and anthems about neglected or abused children (World So Cold and Skyring).

The title track does take the end of the world sort of approach, however it's a different message the band is trying to get across. The statement itself was actually coined by a writer that the band is interested in and the song is about wiping the slate clean and starting over again.

The music, as I described earlier, is choppy and raw and the band also abandons samples and electronic sounds like they used on their first album, "L.D. 50" with straight up heavy music. After abrasive intros and most times melodic verses and a tad heavier choruses, many of the songs will boil down into a vocal driven breakdown with just enough guitar, bass and drums going on in the background before it quicikly kicks itself into overdrive and comes up to a punch you in the face climax (give Trapped in the Wake of a Dream a listen to see what I'm talking about).

The mid-western foursome have improved and matured a great deal with their sophomore effort which may elicit some interest from people who initially labelled them a simple Slipknot ripoff. Give it a shot, it's different to say the least.

--Alcohollica 4.4.03