The Band:
Kud - Vocals
Gurrg - Guitar and Vocals
sPaG - Drums
Ryknow - Bass
Background Info:
"sPaG and his cohorts have been pushing the envelope for four-and-a-half years, ever since Mudvayne first conspired together in the forbidding wastelands of Peoria, Illinois, circa 1996. sPaG, Kud, and Gurrg, with a different bass player (Ryknow came aboard two years later), found each other after ten years in the usual maze of local outfits, immediately sharing a vision of their own musical apocalypse.
The band began gigging regularly, winning over audiences from Denver to Philadelphia with an un-matched intensity and a musical attack that was increasingly intricate and brutal. Somewhere along the line, the four members began painting their faces as well, adding an extra layer of mystery to their dense, foreboding approach."
Track Listing:
1. Monolith - An intro track. It’s mostly just creepy sounds with someone talking about science or something. It starts out cool with sounds of wind, but soon gets dull and fades into the next track. 3/10
2. Dig - The album’s first single, I believe. I’m surprised this song was made into a single, it's my least favorite track. It does manage to get you pumped though. 7/10
3. Internal Primates Forever - Starts with an awesome riff and has an upbeat tempo throughout. Some good vocal work. 8/10
4. -1 - One of my favorite tracks. It starts out slow with clean guitar and clean singing throughout the verses. Ryan’s amazing bass playing begins to show on this track. The lyrics are very depressing and negative (hence the title.) But the song still rocks. 9.5/10
5. Death Blooms - I *think* this was another single, but don’t hold that against me. Ryan really shines on this track. He is phenomenal. Kud uses his voice very well in this track and it is quite catchy. 10/10
6. Golden Ratio - This is just a short filler track. It just connects Death Blooms and Cradle with the same sound repeated. Very pointless and could do without it. 1/10
7. Cradle - This song starts with a clean guitar lick. Kud begins whispering and eventually leading into a scream. The song slows down again then picks up for most of the song. 8/10
8. Nothing To Gein - This song is about Ed Gein. Kud describes Gein's twisted actions and schizophrenia. This song is very emotional and eerie at the same time. Ryan again shines on this song with short bursts of cool bass licks. 9.5/10
9. Mutatis Mutandis - Fades in from the last track and a techno beat ensues with the sound of chimes. Another filler, but atleast it's a little more interesting. 3/10
10. Everything and Nothing - Very catchy track. “I am everything! I am nothing!? Some good bass and a cool chorus. Slightly repetitive. 7/10
11. Severed - My favorite track. This song is amazing. It shows off every member’s capabilities very well. The bass and vocals are especially fascinating. The anger in this song doesn’t sound as forced as some of the other songs. The flow and tempo changes fit incredibly well. This is one of my favorite songs ever. 10/10
12. Recombinant Resurgence - Another filler. Actually, this one is two minutes long. I just skip it. 2/10
13. Prod - Quiet verse, heavy chorus, they use this often. The bridge makes up for it though. It brings us into what sounds like a whole other song. Reminds me very much of Tool. Gurrg actually kind of sounds like Maynard. 9.5/10
14. Pharmaecopia - Starts out heavy, the vocals sound like they’re being screamed through a megaphone. Kud uses another voice we haven't yet heard on the album. His vocal versatility is nearly comparable to that of Mike Pattons IMO. 9/10
15. Under My Skin - Gets right in your face from the start. The chorus slows down. Kud even *gasp!* raps on this song. It fits well though, and it’s a short part. 8/10
16.(K)now F(orever) - Longest song on the album, clocking in at 7:06. Some nice riffage from Gurrg. Vocals are good. Everything works here. 9/10
17. Lethal Dosage - Filler, filler, and more filler. More science talk, not very interesting. Every filler track sounds similar. Making it even worse. 2/10
I give the album a 9/10 overall. The band has a lot of talent and they use it well. This isn't ordinary Nu-Metal. Gurrg's vocals are amazing and the overall musicianship is strong on this album. Unfortunately, the filler tracks get tedious and hurt the album. They are easy to skip over though.
