Mammoth Grinder: Underworlds

Mammoth Grinder has been going strong for at least seven years now. It's been a while since their last full-length album, though, a sore spot for fans. With Underworlds, the band reappears, not only on a new label, but also ready to reassert their place in the underground scene. Those familiar with Mammoth Grinder will note that the band sounds like they've honed their sound mostly within a sludge-soaked sound for this release. They haven't abandoned their punk influences—I don't think they really could—but things are certainly mid-tempo and riffy on this new release. They sound great. Just check out tracks like "Cogs in the Machine," "Moral Crux," or "Underworlds" and listen to these guys do their thing.

Nearly all the tracks open with killer riffs that will certainly be the envy of other bands. These guys have the magical gift of hitting that sweet spot where riffs meet groove, headbanging music if there ever was such a thing. A few of the songs also have brief but cool guitar solos. They aren't very flashy or overly technical, but they match the overall style of the music really well. The vocals are loud and distorted, not angry (like grind), just aggressive. I like this vocal style, but I prefer a little variation so that things don't all seem the same.

The album art on this release, created by the legendary Joe Petagno, is awesome. It shows a wizard-like figure, hooded and menacing, casting lightning from his fingers, his other hand glowing with some other kind of power. Near him, a group of humans lug stones up a cliff. I don't know exactly what's going on, but the picture is bold and interesting, the kind of stuff you'd see on a fantasy novel.

For listeners that like sludgy metal with driving riffs, look no further.

Track Listing:
1. Underworlds
2. Wraparound Eyes
3. Revenge
4. Paragon Pusher
5. Barricades
6. Cogs in the Machine
7. Roperide
8. Breeding
9. Born in a Bag
10. Moral Crux

Added: July 9th 2013
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2144
Language: english

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