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Artist: Mutoid Man
Album: Mutants
Release Date: July 28, 2023
Label: Sargent House
Steve Brodsky - Guitars, Vocals
Ben Koller - Drums
Jeff Matz - Bass
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, Salem, MA, January and February 2022.
Mutants BIO 2023
When Mutoid Man came crashing out of the gate back in 2013, the Brooklyn trio’s combination
of basement punk’s zero-fucks-given energy, classic metal’s over-the-top showmanship, and
prog rock’s musical gymnastics had a seemingly unstoppable momentum. Riding on the success
of their debut EP Helium Head (2013), the band took on a manic work ethic over the next four
years, cranking out two full-lengths, Bleeder (2015) and War Moans (2017), touring relentlessly
across the US and Europe, and becoming something of a de facto house band for esteemed
New York metal venue Saint Vitus along the way. With tour dates supporting acts like
Mastodon and Danzig, it appeared that Mutoid Man’s entry into the upper echelon of heavy
metal heroes was inevitable. However, life has a way of complicating things, and between line-
up changes, an exodus from Brooklyn, a slew of other musical projects, and, ya know, a
pandemic, the band was put on hold in the midst of their ascendancy. But after a six-year
recording hiatus, Mutoid Man are back to reclaim their throne with their third full-length album
and most mindboggling effort yet, Mutants.
Guitarist/vocalist Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Old Man Gloom) and drummer Ben Koller
(Converge, Killer Be Killed) have always excelled at crafting their own unique brand of frenzied,
hyper-focused, dynamic, and deliciously excessive fretboard-savvy metal. Take two players who
were raised in the hardcore world and who quickly surpassed the technical requirements for
playing even the more sophisticated spins on that sound, and then make them playfully push
each other into more outrageous and catchy territories, and you have a rough approximation of
the Mutoid Man sound. But with new bassist Jeff Matz (High on Fire, Zeke) in tow, you now
have a trifecta of prog-level players approaching metal with punk irreverence on Mutants.
Take the opening track “Call of the Void.” Across its four-minute run time, you get a tightly
harnessed bonanza of dexterous pinch harmonic riffs, deliciously lizard-brained half-time chugs,
and a call-to-arms chorus with a relentless double-kick beat that would make Judas Priest
jealous. Every faded denim jacket will crave a Mutoid Man patch after hearing the pairing of hot
licks and ferocious breakdowns on “Broken Glass Ceiling.” One spin of “Graveyard Love” and
you’re sure to understand why guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman counts himself as a fan of the
band. But Mutants never comes across as academic noodling. Rather, the whole album radiates
an exuberant and adrenalized joy. At its core, a tune like “Siren Song” is a straight-up rock n’ roll
jam, peppered by triumphant bass and guitar runs, bottom-heavy tones, and Brodsky’s ability
to craft a solid vocal hook over his bandmate’s heroic shredding. While other aspiring metal
maestros are trying to woo you with soulless sweeping arpeggios, Mutoid Man cranks out
unabashed bangers like “Unborn” that prioritize swampy sludge riffs and butterfly-wristed
thrash chugs over YouTube tutorial-taught dazzle. Their fusion of road warrior flash and
troglodyte revelry is perhaps best exemplified on Mutants closer “Setting Sun,” a banger that
sounds like an Iron Maiden anthem played at double speed with Melvins’ low-tuned meaty
tones.
Despite the setbacks of the pandemic, the new obstacle of members living in different cities,
and making room for the schedules of Cave In, Converge, and High on Fire, Mutants sounds like
it’s still operating on the endorphin rush of their early years. “I think the strength of our new
material and the unwavering excitement for its potential kept us going,” Brodsky says when
asked about their hiatus. “We knew there was a great album in the vault, even if it meant
letting the ingredients marinate for a little longer.” That pent up excitement was finally
captured in January and February of 2022 by engineer/producer Kurt Ballou at God City Studios.
And now Mutants will be available to the world on July 28, 2023 courtesy of Sargent House Records.
notable reviews & features // mutants
"Is this Mutoid Man's most infectious song yet? It just might be! The trio of Cave In's Stephen Brodsky, Converge's Ben Koller and High on Fire's Jeff Matz are finally following up 2017's quirky War Moans, and "Call of the Void" is a phenomenal preview." – Revolver
Mutoid Man, the trio comprising Cave In vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky (no relation to this writer), Converge drummer Ben Koller, and new addition High On Fire bassist Jeff Matz, have announced their first new album in six years — since 2017’s War Moans. Mutants will be out July 28 and features the ripping lead single “Call Of The Void.” – Stereogum
"One gets the sense that Mutoid Man serves an artistic breather — a chance to let loose and have fun, indulging over-the-top stoner metal tropes and dialing up extreme guitar theatrics, as heard on their comeback track “Call of the Void.” – Consequence
"The album drops July 28 via Sargent House, and first single "Call of the Void" is out now. It's exactly the kind of riffy ripper you want from Mutoid Man, and it comes with a video directed by Two Minutes to Late Night." – Brooklyn Vegan
“The mighty Mutoid Man have announced their first new album in over six years, and a UK headline tour.” – Kerrang