I will preface my review by first stating: We at LOADOWN will be starting with an experimentation of standard quality rips - brought to you by us. We're thinking V0 since FLAC is stupid and you're stupid if you think 320C is awesome (I don't give a fuck about your headphones). Why? So when you get certain releases form us you'll know there is a standard expected with it (and a sexy NFO made by supplier).I'll also start with the declaration that it was Wormpaste who suggested this be ripped and posted.
Nu-Metal has an ugly history to it, like other genres that are 'hated' on by ignoramuses due to their misconception and varying definition of terms it's polarized and stigmatized greatly. Wiki has this to say:
Bands associated with nu metal derive influence from a variety of diverse styles, including electronica/electronic music, funk, glam rock, gothic rock, grunge, hardcore punk, hip hop, industrial rock, jazz, post punk and synthpop. Also, nu metal derives influence from multiple subgenres of heavy metal including rap metal, funk metal and thrash metal.I define Nu-metal as such: a short shift in how music was done that faltered on many levels but was great in just as many.
The 'dirty' are mainstream examples like Limp Bizkit (who're awesome, you just won't admit it) who merged 'rap-rock' to success and made money and popularity off it. Pioneers? Best example of the 'genre'? Certainly not. Are they the 'flagship' of the genre that most connect to thus creating the varied (albeit mostly negative) response? Yeah.
However, what about other bands who 'popularized' a genre? Slayer, Suffocation, Metallica, Pantera.. they all had videos on MTV and were the flasgships for their varying genres ('come at me' with arguments). Were they the PRIME and BEST examples of the genre? No. Just those that stuck out.
So what the fuck am I talking about? Simply cause a genre has certain 'affiliations' or 'expectations' does not limit the entire genre or 'sound' to that particular example.
A LOADOWN specific example: Tid/Thrasher posting all the thrash he does. To me, a lot of it fucking sucks and is boring repetitive bullshit. But that shouldn't taint the entire genre. Plenty of good examples around.
Thus, my dear bromosapiens, Mudvayne are an example of a band in a mostly negatively affiliated 'genre' that stands out with this CD.
As opposed to simply beating the shit outta their instruments or having twelve drummers or relying heavily on the production efforts of Ross Robinson (THAT'S A JOKE BTW) Mudvayne ("IMHO") are a band that created something totally different in early 2000 with "L.D 50".. and while they never replicated it and I can't say I cared much after this album, it still sticks out.
Concepts are usually taken as gimmicks with me, a band forcing a 'reason' or 'story' behind an album. Three to four tracks fit the concept and the rest are kinda 'there' (don't give me good examples of concept albums). However with L.D 50 the 'intro' track gets all sciency on the evolutionary basis of monkeys and shrooms ("yes, we are, an ape with a symbiotic relationship to a mushroom"). The tracks lyrically follow the path of questioning the norms an basis of reality. Be it how religion and varying social powers have molded society with the overall question of 'if we're so 'awesome' being super monkeys, why are we still so dumb'.
AIN'T THAT FUCKING DEEP!!?
Plus ya got a song about Ed Gein (the serial killer that wasn't very serial). How does that tie in? Again, if were super mushroom fueled monkeys, why do we kill and be EEEEEEEEEEEVIL.
Musically is where this band also stands out. As said earlier, they don't just beat the shit outta their instruments to be loud and abrasive. Fine, they do but there's ZAZZ! I'm not gonna call this technical since you'll all shit kittens by comparing to other tech acts or scoff and how 'slow' or whatever - but fuckit, this band does have technical and thought out arrangement to their music. MATH SON, FUCKEN MATH. Bass slappin' groove oriented pace altering ups and downs meshed over clean to harsh vocals. Riffs that balance off each other to create a 'third' rhythm inside two rhythms. OHSHI- INVISIBLE RHYTHMS.HOW MANY TIMES AM I GONNA WRITE RHYTHM (and misspell it everytime).
Fuck you if you don't like it. This is me using my care face.
-.- <-- emoticons are tr00.
*if you're a fellow contrib and wish to 'get into this', contact id_ on IRC.
** complain about tagging and standards all you want
*** don't respond to this with a 'metal brother circle jerk' i don't care what bands you like or what dead musician you're gonna quote or whose gonna get all outta shape.
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