It would have been enough for United Mutation to distinguish themselves solely based off of frontman Mike Brown’s inhuman vocals, their most recognizable trait, but they also managed to craft a sound that was virtually inimitable by other hardcore acts of the early to mid ‘80s. In their 1984 7”
Rainbow Person, United Mutation ignores the more common conventions of the time in favor of a more expansive, melodic approach to the speed and aggression that typically defined hardcore. The guitar playing taps into some sort of otherworldly punk-cum-psychedelia blend, which with a stellar rhythm section serves as a suitable backdrop for the dominating vocals from Brown. More akin to the guttural roars that would begin to define extreme metal, Brown’s vocals bring a primal ferocity to United Mutation’s music that was unparalleled by other hardcore groups of the time. This combination of oddly hypnotic instrumentation and strange vocals makes for a frantic, claustrophobic atmosphere that manages to be incredibly engrossing despite the record's short run-time. There’s no question about why United Mutation weren't the coolest hardcore band of their time, but that’s a shame considering the fact that they contributed some of the most creative music to come from the genre, and more specifically from the DC scene. At least they do have a lot to show for it though, and
Rainbow Person is an incredible slab of music that may resemble the peak of that creativity.
