Mudvayne

Mudvayne | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 21, 2009)
• Original Release Date: December 21, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B002WIDRJ4
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,193 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Beautiful And Strange

2. 1000 Mile Journey

3. Scream With Me

4. Closer

5. Heard It All Before

6. I Can't Wait

7. Beyond The Pale

8. All Talk

9. Out To Pasture

10. Burn The Bridge

11. Dead Inside

Editorial Reviews

2009 album from the Alt-Metal outfit, already regarded as the bands strongest work in six years. Mudvayne follows up 2008's album, The New Game, which featured the #1 radio hit, 'Do What You Do' and has scanned 220k copies in the past 11 months. The band has sold over three million albums in the U.S. and has had six Top 10 hits at radio. In a very unique packaging move, this self titled album will be printed entirely in ink that cannot be seen without a blacklight! The artwork and layout has been designed by world famous artist Paul Booth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Return of the Vayne: An In Depth Perspective, December 21, 2009

By 

C. M. Gillum (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mudvayne (Audio CD)

Since the release of their now classic 2000 release and major album debut L.D. 50, Mudvayne has long been one of the few bands willing to experiment even though they share stages and chart placements with mainstream acts. Whether it be the radical outfits/makeup/costumes the band adorns on stage or the chaotic and often fairly technical music, Mudvayne strives to stand alone. This has made them a band we can count on to release quality material while keeping it interesting and giving the fans something new with each release.

As a long time fan I can't say the band has had a bad release to date but I was a bit worried of the groups direction after 2008's The New Game. A good album, but I was worried the band was attempting to steer away from their heavier edge most noticeably heard on their earlier releases. This release however blew me back as we hear some of the ban's heaviest moments ever while still keeping the catchiness of later releases.

Right off the get go we get a lengthy 58 second intro and then Mudvayne unleashes their pent up aggression over the last few albums with some chaotic double bass work. the following track '1000 Mile Journey' continues the heaviness with a catchier chorus, flawlessly capturing both sides of the bands style. The short 'Scream With Me' brings down the tempo to slow things down a moment and Chad belts out a contagious chorus that will keep you singing along for days.

But just when you think the album might be slowing down we get 'Closer', easily one of my favorite tracks on the album. Not as heavy as the two opening tracks but speeds things up and we get to hear some excellent lead's from Greg as well as a SOLO... You heard that right, Mudvayne now does Solo's. The following track 'Heard It All Before' opens with more of those gnarly leads by Greg and then the song erupts into a violent romp of technical bass work and chugging guitar riffs that strongly reminded me of the style on The End of All Things to Come and later in the song we get an even more impressive solo.

'I Can't Wait' starts out with Chad belting out a long scream and kicks up the pace with more gritty riffage and some of Ryan's trademark technical B-Lines but its later on in the song that will blow you away, the most aggressive moment of the album thus far hits at about 2:00, simply crushing. As to contrast the previous intensity 'Beyond The Pale' starts off with some mellow Bass work backed by some quality leads and leads into a mid paced romp with yet again more of that catchier side but the later half of the song picks up the pace again with some mosh worthy riffing and double bass work.

As we near the end of the album I have to admit this is the most I have enjoyed a Mudvayne album the first listen through since L.D. 50. I didn't realize how much I missed the sheer aggression of Mudvayne's earlier releases and now that it has returned I only hope the band further pushes that aspect of their music on the next release. 'All Talk' is also fairly heavy and short but falls into the more catchiness and spotlight's on Chad's superb vocals. Again we get the track opening with melodic strings on 'Out To Pasture', which is one of the album's "slow song's" and focus' like the previous track on the vocals, very eerie at points.

'Burn The Bridge' is an extremely catchy but fast paced track with some of the best rhythm guitars on the album. Mudvayne closes the album with the completely acoustic 'Dead Inside', a slow and hauntingly end to yet another chapter of the band that is Mudvayne, some very meaningful lyrics are sung here. Eleven tracks, a wide aray of tempo's and some of the hardest tracks the band has performed in years.. An instant classic as far as I am concerned and though late still one of the best releases of 2009. I highly recommend this to ALL Mudvayne fans, even those of you whom may have turned your backs on them after L.D. 50. My love of this group and their music has been rekindled and I hope that yours can to. Thanks for reading, please support a supporter of Heavy Metal and click 'Yes' below.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Falling Anymore., December 22, 2009

By 

A. Estes (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mudvayne (Audio CD)

Once upon a time, when nu-metal still ruled the world, Mudvayne were on the cutting edge. With their experimental and unpredictable debut, L.D. 50, the Peoria, Illinois quartet turned the genre on its head with its unconventional song structures, iconic stage make-up and a perfect balance of aggression and melody. Over time, though, their quest to keep with the times meant the streamlining of their sound, as later releases such as Lost and Found saw the band ditching the image as well as a hefty chunk of inspiration. To put it bluntly, their sound has been watered down more and more with each release, and it seems all hope has been lost. That is, until now.

Believe it or not, Mudvayne's self-titled fifth album is somewhat of a return to form. Coming hot off the heels of last year's The New Game and recorded simultaneously, it's a surprising shift from the somewhat predictable sound the band has been meddling with for the latter half of the decade. For the first time since the first album (and perhaps the second), it sounds like the band could care less about radio success, which is good, since the band currently have no plans to promote or push the album. The album is dark, heavy, experimental and uncompromising. In a nutshell, it's what Mudvayne fans have long been screaming for.

Despite the tone of the album, the band can still churn out a catchy tune here and there, as evidenced by the first single, "Scream With Me" and the crushing "Beautiful and Strange," which is perhaps the best example of the band's old style seeping into the new. For the most part, though, the album tears through its eleven songs with massive riffing, chugging basslines and pummeling drums, finally settling down on the moody closing track, "Dead Inside," which, in spite of its acoustic guitars does not resemble HELLYEAH (the supergroup featuring two-quarters of Mudvayne in its ranks) in the slightest.

It's a shame, then, that the band has chosen not to push the album, as it is the best thing they've had to offer in years, and more than makes up for the mediocre "The New Game." To many fans, this is the album that should have followed The End of All Things to Come and is the rare kind nowadays that gets better with each successive listen. If you have ever been a fan of Mudvayne and have lost faith in the band, prepare to be surprised and reeled back in. Hopefully the lack of activity for the band at the moment doesn't spell trouble in the future, as more albums like this could definitely help their name rise to the cream of the crop once again.

For the record, though, the blacklight-activated album art was a terrible idea. I buy physical copies because I enjoy looking at the artwork, not blank liner notes. Using a blacklight to view the tracklisting or even the cover is a bit of a pain, even if a blacklight included in the deluxe edition. Granted, it's obviously a gimmick meant to curb pirating and encourage fans to make the purchase, but it's not going to make that much of a difference in the end, and doesn't enhance the overall enjoyment of the album in the slightest.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Please stop it Mudvayne, December 30, 2009

By 

Mirthenary "TMT" (Spencerville, MD, USA, Earth, Terran System, Milky Way Galaxy.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mudvayne (Audio CD)

This cd is worse than the last one, if that's even possible. Keep it up guys, and I may never buy another Mudvayne cd again.

No more stupid gimmicks like this. How am I supposed to look at this damn thing without whipping out my black light every time I want to look at the stupid thing? And besides, the artwork is indicative of the music, nothing amazing anyway, a big whoopty-do.