Mushroomhead is an eight piece industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. They have got a new lead singer for this CD, entitled Savior Sorrow. They have released two independent CD's before releasing XX, their first major album. It is a compilation of their best songs from those independent records. Then they released XIII in 2003 and featured the hit single “Sun Doesn’t Rise”. They then released this CD on 9/19/06. Mushroomhead was really big in Cleveland and that got them a deal. A lot of people confuse Mushroomhead with bands like Slipknot and Gwar, mainly Slipknot because they wear masks. These guys were the ones who started that, until Slipknot wore them out in the open. They are two separate bands, with this one being a lot more creative. This CD, Savior Sorrow, has a bit of both previous records, based on how the songs flow. It features some elements used in XX an XIII.
Mushroomhead is:
Skinny - Drums
Waylon. - Lead Vocals
Jeffrey Nothing - Lead Vocals
Shmotz - Keyboards
Pig Benis - Bass
Gravy – Guitar
Bronson - Guitar
Stitch - Samples
12 Hundred starts us out with a very catchy guitar intro, and sounds like a song from Slipknot. However, the rest of the album is very different. You will start hearing the amazing drumming skills of Skinny, as he can create a very good beat with the drums, and that is what carries this song as a good opener. It features Waylon and Jeffrey Nothing taking turns rapping near the end, and it bleeds into the next song. It kind of sounds like 30-30/150 from the Stone Sour CD. It isn’t great, but it isn’t that bad either.
Simple Survival is the song on this CD that brings back the Mushroomhead sound from XIII. It features Waylon singing in the opener of the song, and it shows promise as he can sing on key. The message here is simple, saying he wants us to survive and get up from the wreck that all of us have caused. The guitars in the chorus use another catchy chord progression, which Mushroomhead is great at doing. There is some pretty good singing near the end of this song as well.
Damage Done is a song that has some pretty eerie samples. It mainly features Waylon rapping, and som pretty good drum samples. Reminds me of "Eternal" from XIII. They could have done a better job on this song, but the best is yet to come in this chapter of the Mushroomhead book. It is still a good song to listen to, but you can skip it if you want. The best is for later on this CD.
Save Us is a great song, as the piano can always add effects to the song and make it more dark and melodic. It saves it from being a very boring song, and actually makes it really interesting to hear, as the piano can provide some interesting sounds. Having playing the piano for 12 years, it is nice to see metal bands using such a Godly instrument. The song kind of ends, and that is disappointing, but still a great song nonetheless. This is very contrasting from the two songs sandwiching this one, and it makes it enjoyable to listen to.
Tattoo is the kind of song where you would want some singing. They do sing, but they repeat the same guitar riffs over and over in this song (and others), but they don’t do hardly enough singing in this one, they should utilize Jeffrey’s voice and have him use his talent more. This song gets really repetitive, and it is kind of a let down after such a great song.
Erase the Doubt is a song that has a mix of rock and rap. It features Jeffrey singing with Waylon rapping. It is a better song than Tattoo, and near the end of this song is some eerie keyboard samples, and it would feel like you are in a coffin house or something like that. Very well done samples and keyboards, as Mushroomhead always has had them be very, very good. One of the better songs on the CD.
Burn is another rapping song from Waylon, but this time it shows Skinny’s superb drumming. Jeffrey sings in between Waylon’s lines, and makes for a good listen. Mushroomhead is known for repeating riffs, but the samples and keyboards make this a very different song than the rest. The lyrics are about him trying to endure from the pain that he has had, and then taking care of his problem. Good, but not the best. That is next.
Just Pretending is a song with great keyboards, as they make up the melody. The title is the hook of the song, and it shows. The chorus features dual singing on key, and Waylon and Jeffrey do a very nice job on this. The guitar just does some broken up power chords, hugging the piano as they both go along. The singing of Jeffrey really shines out, as with Waylon on this song. This is a different style that Mushroomhead has played in, and I think it has worked out well. To me, this is one of the best, and so far my favorite on the CD, along with the next song.
The Need is a song that reminds me of "Our Own Way" from XIII. It is well put together and you get to see the highlights of Jeffrey Nothing and Waylon singing at their bets. The song kind of gets repetitive, but the outro to this song is very well constructed as the piano and guitar provide a very mystique sound and end very, very soft. One of the better ones.
Cut Me starts out with more synthesizers and beautiful piano lines. After you hear a bit of that, it is more of a vocal song revolved around a certain chord. It tends to move away from that chord, but comes back really quickly. If it wasn’t for the samples, this song would be dull. It could use more work, but it is in a good spot on the CD.
The Fallen starts us off with a very catchy guitar riff. It isn't the best or most complicated, but is very well put into the song, and is a typical, yet clever Mushroomhead guitar riff. All of the instruments tend to hug this riff until the end of the song, and after a while it gets really repetitive. Near the end, you're wondering if you should skip the song, because it is the same thing over and over. Not very well done, except for the beginning.
Embrace the Ending is the ballad of the album, and the guitars in this song are better than the rest. Jeffrey comes in singing very quietly, followed by Waylon. It is done very nicely, and the samples keep it from being very cliché. A good way to end the album. Just very well done.
There are two remixes of Save Us and The Fallen on my CD, but I won’t review them, just because they aren’t in the original track list, and they aren’t that different.
Sound
As Always, you have the typical Mushroomhead guitars tuned down very low playing different power chords at different speeds. It is the keyboards and samples that these guys use that separates them from other bands. Although not their best, this is definitely a bright spot for the band.
Lyrics
Mushroomhead lyrics are the stuff that they usually put out, with some twists. They include saving something, mistrust, and stuff along that like. The voice of the two vocalists who do these lyrics are good as well.
Impression
If you like Mushroomhead, get this. If you don't like them or are trying to get into them, you could go and get this, but you would be better off getting XX or XIII. Still a a great CD nonetheless.
Recommended Songs
Simple Survival
Save Us
Just Pretending
The Need
I give it a 3.5.5, hope you like it.
