Review Summary: Mutoid Man's debut EP is a hardcore/metalcore record on acid that will not leave any fan of Converge or Cave In walking away empty handed.
If you consider yourself a fan of metalcore, the names Stephen Brodsky and Ben Koller should likely be well known to you. Stephen Brodsky is the genius behind Cave In, performing guitar, bass and vocal duties for Mutoid Man while Ben Koller of Converge fame is the absolutely devastating madman behind the drum kit. Brodsky helped perform bass duties for Converge on their '98 LP 'When Forever Comes Crashing' while Koller's brief stint with Cave In on their 2005 cassingle 'Dead Already / Shapeshifter' laid the foundation for what was to become Mutoid Man. Fast forward 8 years and we are presented with the absolutely vicious and brain melting blend of 70's style rock&roll/prog/hardcore/sludge/metalcore that is 'Helium Head'.
'Gnarcissist' opens the record wonderfully with a very prog-on-crack sound while Brodsky croons (don't worry, his harsh vocals make several appearances) and Koller fires on all cylinders as if he were performing on a Converge record. As soon as the track begins, it descends into a metalcore with bluesy overtones noise fest. If the opener hasn't already hooked you in, the infectious second track 'Scavengers' will with it's unique sound that encapsulates both men's respective careers, from the pull-off/hammer-on riff that could have been pulled from modern day Converge or the groovy and proggy verse reminiscent of Jupiter-era Cave In.
As crazy and hardcore-mixed-with-prog-on-acid the record begins, it slowly drives into madness across it's six tracks. 'Scrape the Walls' transitions from bluesy rock and roll to an absolute wall of cathartic screams and blistering drum fills of metalcore and sludge goodness that just progresses across 'Friday the 13/8', 'Sacriledge' and 'Lost in the Hive's' madness. 'Helium Head' absolutely never takes it's foot off the gas for it's 13+ minute run time, simply pummeling you in the face with infectious riff after riff with mind blowing drum work. This proves to be one the band's greatest assets; The record flies by so fast and the band is so obviously having a great time that it opens up for absolutely immense replay value, allowing you to dissect every psychedelic hardcore riff and roar from Brodsky's mouth and monstrous and inhuman drum fill from Koller. Mutoid Man's debut EP is a hardcore/metalcore record on acid that will not leave any fan of Converge or Cave In walking away empty handed.
