Review Summary: Grind back and forth, all day long.
It’s hard to believe that this is a 2007 record. From Mistress’ un-humble beginnings bordering on some well-trodden ground - to a sound that is still is a grind fest hinting at the occasional casual sludge. Fortunately,
Glory Bitches of Doghead highlights just how a band can create a stylistically heavy album without resorting to dropped tunings and atonal breakdowns. Typically the album itself for the most relies on some forward thinking balls out passages and with tracks titled ‘Kunt’ and ‘31 6 7 Drown It’ it comes rather expectantly. There are still the sludge sections that were so prominent within the bands previous releases but here it seems to have been toned down, more-or-less focusing on this mid-tempo grind album while adding a feature here and there that overall benefits the record’s flow.
It could be said that this is the band’s ‘magnum opus’ (to date). The music has the typical brutality associated with these kinds of acts but where Mistress separates itself from its competitors is in the depth in song writing. Combined with the random but well placed clean interlude ‘Sleep’ the album may surprise you from time to time, yet stays true to its accessible nature. Unfortunately the stigma created by stereotypes of the genre may prevent a few listeners from even giving this a go. For those listeners who may indeed find Mistress over the top, or a barrage of repeated ideas - listen again. There is indeed some truly accessible moments found in the likes of ‘Grimdown’ where it could easily be said is the most straight-forward track on the album. Riff patterns even find a slightly thrash-y sound backed by some incredibly solid drum work. There is nothing here that really stands out but how the music comes together shows a band that is happy doing what they know.
In terms of how the album comes together as a whole
Glory Bitches of Doghead has a vibrant raw sound that adds to the mood of the record without compromising too much of its clarity between notes. Every note can in fact be heard (and quite clearly) every bass pedal has its place without the addition of ‘triggers’ and other sources of media and the cymbals don’t wash out or muffle the mix. Overall,
Glory Bitches of Doghead is a quality album – the right level of new mixed with some old-ish sounding production. It’s an album with depth, intensity and an underlying melody. The album itself is unmistakably heavy but retains an accessible edge.
