CD Review: Mudvayne - Lost and Found

Mudvayne has returned with their third album, entitled Lost and Found. I have been a fan of these guys ever since I first heard “Dig” and saw these guys with the face paint and colored hair tearing it up on MTV2. That same year they showed up at the MTV Video Awards wearing white tuxedos with blood dripping down the front from the bullet holes in their foreheads. Memorable also for the fact that they won an award and got to go onstage like that. They have since dropped the makeup act and left the made up names at the curb, leaving only their musical ability to carry onward. Fortunately, they have ability to spare.

This album seems to be a bit of a departure from their first pair of releases. It doesn’t start off as strong, it takes a good two or three songs before it really starts to pick up the pace and get a groove. I’m not quite sure how to explain it, but the sound is different, it took me awhile to get used to it, but I can’t put my finger on it. The music still has a relentless aggression to it, with a good dose of musicianship. They have a wonderfully adaptive sound, they have the ability to go from a slower paced moody piece, to full on in your face modern metal witch clipped heavy riffs and growled lyrics.

I haven’t heard what their first single is off of this release, but the one that jumps out as a contender is “Happy.” It may not be the best on the album, but it sounds like a single. It features a blend of their strengths, starting off mellow with some smooth guitar picking and Chad Grey singing clean, but before long it breaks into the heavier end of the spectrum. Structurally, it reminds me a bit of “World So Cold” off of their previous release The End of All Things to Come.

It is with “Happy,” the third track, that the album really starts to take off. Following that single-worthy song is something more reminiscent of the old Mudvayne, “IMN.” A heavy track that grabs hold and never lets go, putting the bands ferocious musical aggression front and center. Other highlights include the mellow starting “Fall Into Sleep,” and “Rain, Sun, Gone,” another potential single. Then there is “Choices” which features a rather creepy sounding kid voice in the background a couple of times. Lyrically they are as strong as ever, dwelling mostly in themes of loss and despair without ever becoming overtly depressing.

It took a few listens for me to start and get a handle on the album, at first I was not terribly impressed as I was expecting something more akin to the prior albums. But as I listened more, I discovered they weren’t stepping backwards, but rather moving forward as their sound is maturing. I still don’t think that it is at the same level as The End of All Things to Come, but it is still an excellent album will grow on you.

I saw them live in 2004 for the first time, and ever since then, I have had a growing respect for them musically. If you just listen to the surface aggression, you may just think of them as the same as everyone else, but if you dig a little beneath the surface you will discover some very proficient musicians. One of the things that impressed me the most about Lost and Found is Ryan Martinie’s bass playing. There is always something going on back there, he is not just doubling the guitar rhythm, or sticking with the drummer as a lot of players do, rather, he is back there doing his thing adding another dimension to the songs, fleshing them out beyond the normal guitar chugging. Don’t think that I am belittling Greg Tribbett, he is an accomplished player, showing an ability to shift between the riffs and the slowed down segments. And of course Matt Mcdonough is always in the back keeping the beat going, changing tempos and making good use of his kit. Last but not least there is Chad Grey, who has a great metal voice, being able to sing in a few different styles, clean to the growl, and sound unique through it all, one of the better metal singers to emerge in recent years.

Bottomline. While not as strong as their earlier albums, there are some great songs on this package and it will grow on you. My first impression was not so hot, but once you sit and actually listen it, you will discover some great songs here. There is plenty here to get your aggression out to, and a lot more quality musicianship than many other so called metal acts. I do find it funny that this comes out two weeks after Will Smith released an album with the same title.

Recommended.

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