Mingle Harde
Mongol Horde


4.5
superb

Review

by iswimfast USER (31 Reviews)
May 25th, 2014 | 107 replies


Release Date: 2014 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Punk for those tired of being so damn serious all the time and just want something to yell about for a while

I might’ve made a mistake when I called Frank Turner’s latest solo outing boring. Not that I’m retracting that sentiment, but I didn’t mean to upset him this much. Just when I thought the punk side of Turner had officially checked out and went west, he decides to re-equip the long dormant middle finger and put it out for everyone to see. So we got Mongol Horde. Composed of a combination of both old and new Turner band members, Mongol Horde sees Turner threatening our lives before letting us know, rather poignantly, that we have a weak handshake. They’ve delivered hardcore punk straight of Refused’s playbook, spoken word and guttural pleas alike, clashing and splattering all over the walls in schizophrenic bliss. And unbelievably the music’s still extremely accessible (as much as stories about Natalie Portman’s reform inducing tapeworms can be, anyway) with its riff-lines clean and its shouts quite scream-a-long-able.

Hardcore contemporaries should take note to how well Mongol Horde manages to avoid taking themselves too seriously. The whole album functions in this tongue-in-cheek realm of punk that we haven’t seen in years (eat your heart out, Touche Amore, the world isn’t ending yet) and it thrives in randomness of metaphor. Turner’s “stories” prove to maintain the standard punk anti-establishment chorus chants, but closer inspection reveal a much shallower, humorous slant (there’s an entire song about the stillborn product of a rhino and pony reproducing, guys) of a band just having a whole lot of fun. It’s punk for those tired of being so damn serious all the time and just want something to yell about for a while. Most of all, it’s gloriously engaging, proving that while the mainstream rock Frank Turner may have gone the way of least resistance, the one that thrives in that resistance is still very much alive and kicking… all of us in the face. I’m sorry I doubted you.



Recent reviews by this author
A Sunny Day in Glasgow Sea When AbsentPianos Become the Teeth Keep You
Swervedriver I Wasn't Born to Lose YouMake Do and Mend Don't Be Long
Lupe Fiasco Tetsuo and YouthLinkin Park The Hunting Party
user ratings (146)
3.8
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

i did the short thing again because it's hardcore and that's how the kids like it.



streaming on spotify. 'make way' is here:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FOoo6D0Wes

scottpilgrim10
May 25th 2014


4750 Comments


Nice short review, pos'd.

I've been listening to this non stop for the past few days. The soft to loud dynamics are great.

This live performance of Mongol Horde is really sweet so in case you haven't seen it yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rNmVHSbyL8

NordicMindset
May 25th 2014


25137 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

sounds cool from what i've heard

iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

thanks!

scottpilgrim10
May 25th 2014


4750 Comments


I hope this gains more traction on Sputnik.

DatsNotDaMetulz
May 25th 2014


4309 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Gotta wait for this to get online.

mxbrady
May 25th 2014


1582 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

crazy psyched to hear this album

Calc
May 25th 2014


17329 Comments


"I might’ve made a mistake when I called Frank Turner’s latest solo outing boring. Not that I’m retracting that sentiment, but I didn’t mean to upset him this much."


omfg...

Grizzlypyro
May 25th 2014


272 Comments


May have to check this after I get back from work.

eddie95
May 25th 2014


708 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I'll check this as soon as it's uploaded on spotify... Great review but I think that Turner's solo career is going in a pretty good way. Last effort was musically speaking worse than his previous albums, but not less intense. He's a great songwriter and acoustic guitarist anyway. He deserves his ratings. I'm very interested in this project and 'Make Way' was really good. Can't wait to hear the rest. Pos'd

iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

i think i upset calc and i'm not sure why.



and i'm certainly not saying his solo stuff is bad, just that Tape Deck Heart felt significantly safer than previous stuff and it suffered as a result.



thanks for the feature, guys, cheers.

JS19
May 25th 2014


7777 Comments


Can't find this on Spotify : (

iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

it would seem they took it down for some reason? it's physical release is tomorrow so I'm not sure why that would be.

Cygnatti
May 25th 2014


36017 Comments


"I might’ve made a mistake when I called Frank Turner’s latest solo outing boring. Not that I’m retracting that sentiment, but I didn’t mean to upset him this much."

what does that even mean?

iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

it's me attempting to comedically overplay my own self importance by stating it's my fault that he created an "angry" hardcore record.



whether you find it funny is one thing, but the intent feels pretty obvious.

RVAHC13
May 25th 2014


837 Comments


This is gooood stuff

Calc
May 25th 2014


17329 Comments


I don't get upset foo that's my computer way of rolling my eyes.

iswimfast
May 25th 2014


1526 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

oh ok good that's what i was going for

Scoot
May 25th 2014


22169 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

ugh i need this

TheSpirit
Emeritus
May 25th 2014


30304 Comments


I probably won't check this out, but this is short review done right :thumb:



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy