Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Municipal Waste - Hazardous Mutation - 2005 - Earache

Track Listing1. Intro 2. Deathripper 3. Unleash the Bastards 4. The Thing 5. Blood Drive 6. Accelerated Vision 7. Guilty of Being Tight 8. Set to Destruct 9. Hazardous Mutation 10. Nailed Casket 11. Abusement Park 12. Black Ice 13. Mind Eraser 14. Terror Shark 15. The Thrashin' of the Christ 16. Bangover

The kids in Richmond have problems. The Slave Pit, where GWAR calls home is not the only thing to fester in the wastes of one of the oldest cities in America. The boys behind Municipal Waste seem to be finding their way out of the gutter into our homes. A throw back to what they call “80’s Crossover”, mixing all the rage and anarchy of the punk music heyday with heavier riffs and cleaner sounds. Compared to iconic bands like DRI and Suicidal Tendencies, their debut full-length album, “Hazardous Mutation”, most assuredly holds those same values, or lack there of, true. In every essence a true thrash album. Chaotic and spiteful with buckets of lyrical gore applied liberally to about every aspect of this album. Bitter and cynical lyrics abound, as they call to “…crush the church and take back our lives.” on the track “Thrashin’ of the Christ”, also showing blatant disregard for public safety on songs like Blood Drive, a maniacal romp through a high speed pursuit. Such a sick outlook for a group of guys freshly into there 20’s, which begs the question, what’s happening in Richmond? Their youth may be their greatest advantage, giving them plenty of years to mature their angst-ridden sound, which I will admit, will need to keep evolving as they progress as a band, or they run a very real risk of getting themselves into a thrash rut. Which could prove to be what will stop what seems like an unstoppable up-and-coming band.

Overall “Hazardous Mutation” is a solid album musically. While being a hefty 16 tracks, each one averages about 2 minutes so it runs through your CD player fairly quickly but leaves you still pounding your fist. For those of you still clinging to the punk scene from 20 years ago, scoffing at “punk” bands like Sum 41 and Good Charlotte, this may be what you’re waiting for. While calling it a breath of fresh air may be insulting, it’s more like a hot ragged belch spraying spit into a mass marketed punk genre. Recent exploits have taken them coast-to-coast with fellow Virginians and splatter punk masters of the Earth, GWAR. Record label, Earache, has promised more to come from the self-destructive quartet. Let’s hope they hold true on that. It may be enough to constitute a trip out to Richmond to see what else is crawling in the sewers and landfills.




--Weasel 11.20.06

Municipal Waste - Hazardous Mutation - 2005 - Earache Records

Track Listing1. Intro / Death Ripper 2. Unleash The Bastards 3. The Thing 4. Blood Drive 5. Accelerated Vision 6. Guilty Of Being Tight 7. Thrashin’ Of The Christ 8. Hazardous Mutation 9. Nailed Casket 10. Abusement Park 11. Black Ice 12. Mind Eraser 13. Terror Shark 14. Set To Destruct 15. Bang Over

It has been a long time since I've heard a new band go down this route. Think of a retro sound dedicated to the likes of "Among The Living" and "Spreading The Disease" Anthrax crossed with the best punk philosophy of DRI. That is really what this debut is made from, cut from that warped, fast-as-lightning speed metal attack that borders on the insane fury found with German thrashers. "Hazardous Mutation" is a captivating, perfectly timed return to the old school classic metal glory.

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Municipal Waste are right on target, expanding on punk/hardcore rhythms and crossing into the rip-tide of metal thrashing mad. The group conjures up those ultra fast punk riffs, put on the quick track along with singer Tony Foresta's energetic and aggressive "spoken word" slur. He mixes it up nicely, really taking the music into the way of new school thoughts ala Shadow's Fall. But where modern bands like that fall flat, Municipal Waste turns up the heat, tuning down and playing through quick romps. With sixteen cuts involved here the average song is about two minutes, a long standing tradition of hardcore and punk theory.

Overall the majority of the material flows consistently with solid riffs that move at a fast gallop, or simply combine on wicked grooves that ride the metro through cuts that are beaming with perverse and sadistic humor. With songs like "Bang Over", "Guilty Of Being Tight", and "The Thrashin' Of The Christ" one can't help but giggle and cackle. But while the band are busy running songwriting through the Gwar processor, other cuts bring back the fire of early acts like Anvil. "Mind Eraser", "Death Ripper", and "Terror Shark" are all out war, fast and furious leather beatings that deliver the goods in "whiplash" style.

Overall this whole record is just absolutely a rampage, an up-tempo riff stomper that will please ALL fans of Anthrax, DRI, Anvil, and those in between bands that nobody ever gives props too. Congrats on Earache for taking a chance on this young group. If any of their future albums continue with this much tradition and professionalism, Municipal Waste could find themselves headbanging on the stoop of superstardom.

--EC 10.05.05