Band:	Mutoid Man
Album:	Mutants
Style:	Hardcore, Hard rock, Progressive metal
Release date:	July 2023

01. Call Of The Void
02. Frozen Hearts
03. Broken Glass Ceiling
04. Siren Song
05. Graveyard Love
06. Unborn
07. Siphon
08. Demons
09. Memory Hole
10. Setting Sun

This Mutoid Man will brighten your day the headbanging way! Well, Mutants or not, this mighty Mutoid Man trio can definitely play!

Mutoid Man is a U.S.-based hard rock band with progressive and hardcore tendencies that formed back in 2012, featuring drummer Ben Koller (Converge/All Pigs Must Die), vocalist/guitarist Stephen "Steve" Brodsky (Cave In), and bassist Jeff Matz (High On Fire/Holy Terror). The trio currently have three full-length releases to date, which include Bleeder (2015), War Moans (2017), and now their latest output, simply titled Mutants. So, with a short, but certainly fine discography to date, what does the Mutoid Man deliver to us this time with their third full-length release?

Well, aside from possibly this year's most extravagant and colourful cover-art, Mutants is an incredibly energetic and enjoyable listen from start to finish, brimming with groovy melodies and memorable choruses, and not for a single second does it lack any character (as if there was any doubt to begin with). From classic hard rock to psychedelic and progressive rock, and from hardcore to alternative metal, we have ourselves a staggering variety of styles and genre fusions. You can be sure to pick up on more elements along the way as a result of these impressive song structures. The style in which this band play is almost undescribable, yet remains heavy, consistent, and catchy as hell throughout — the kind of catchy that sticks with you immediately, almost as if you've sworn to have heard it somewhere else before, and, yet, you certainly haven't.

The album is off to a flying start with one of the most memorable tracks on the whole album, "Call Of The Void". This track immediately shows the band's ability to blend genres and styles at their will and really show their versatile songwriting capabilities. The one element that stands out above all on this opening track, for me, is the highly memorable chorus, which is brought to you by Steve's excellent vocal performance. His style closely resembles something straight out of the classic '70s hard rock era, yet he adds a kind of '90s distorted alternative/grunge effect also. This approach goes hand-in-hand with his tongue-in-cheek (perhaps even silly at times) lyrical content. However, it isn't just Steve's vocal performance that stands out here; his guitar playing skills are tremendous as well. His sludge-like riffs are played with a distinctively fuzzy stoner tone, which, I have to say, is very fierce and effective. Steve's riffs and leads are then accompanied by a great galloping rhythm section, provided by Ben's crazy-ass drumming beats (oh boy, what a drummer we have here), and Jeff's heavy, groovy bass lines.

From here on, the album flows effortlessly, from the rabid thrashy “Unborn,” and “Demons” to math-rock-inspired "Siphon”, you'll be in for a treat, not really knowing what's around the corner, but still headbanging your way senseless. Now, saving the best track for last, we have "Setting Sun". This is a track that shows the band at the top of their game in both performance and songwriting. From the exciting, groovy psychedelic jams, and Rush-style progressive rhythm structures to the classic Status Quo-style bluesy, hard rock solos and added spicy hardcore elements, this track acts as a perfect reflection on what the whole album has offered beforehand — and then some!

To sum it up, Mutants reaches levels beyond its impressive predecessor War Moans. If you enjoyed what you've heard so far from Mutoid Man, then you'll no doubt enjoy what Mutants has to offer. It's not complex, it's heavy, it's hard, it's addictive and replayable, and it's a serious headbanging delight.