Customer Reviews

Savior Sorrow

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This is a different Mushroomhead from the days of Superbuick. Which is okay, because that was a long time and five or six original members ago (I forget!). Perhaps the most noted loss was that of J-Mann, the rap-rock drive that charged to the forefront of every song.

But fear not!

It's true this is album is done in a different vein. When compared to XX and even XIII, there is no mistaking that there is a distinct lack of harshness, both in lyrical and musical content... Not necessarily a bad thing. Waylon sounds nearly identical to the gone but not forgotten J-Mann, though there isn't much of the latter's hard driving rock-rapping to be found on this album (Tattoo is about as hard as this CD gets). Mushroomhead is evolving, as they have always done, and one album cannot pin their everchanging state of their music down.

It's a good start, and I for one am going to be eagerly awaiting whatelse these guys can manage to pull off.

Tired riffs? This album is a showcase of musical range. The entire spectrum of musical instruments is used in this 12-track epic album. True, the boyz have offered a few more melodic tracks, but what a beautiful blend of the hard and raw with soul-searching, searing rhythms of a Mushroomhead nature. You're not going to find Def Leppard power-ballads, or old-man-Lars-just-looking-for-a-steady-paycheck patterns. This is a unique blend that holds your attention all the way through. Savior Sorrow is not XIII, but Mushroomhead set a high bar with their last release that will likely never be exceeded. I'm not going to compare the two, because it isn't fair. Instead, compare Savior Sorrow with the crap you hear on the radio today, and tell me that this isn't a 5-star masterpiece.

After reading most of the poor reviews on this album, I was a little confused if everyone was listening to the same album, and if we were...did any of the negative reviewers give the album a few spins to grow? I must admit at first listen this album doesn't seem to come close to comparing to Mushroomhead's 2 previous major label efforts. However after tuning my ear to Waylon's voice, as oppose to trying to judge how much he didn't sound like the great J.Mann, the record became much more enjoyable. To be honest, this is experimental record, and if you come to hear J.Mann, you will NOT hear him on this album. I really enjoy this album the more I listen to it however, the common listener will not give it the listening it deserves after the first spin and they decide "This Sucks" and they toss it aside. That being said, Mushroomhead as a band seem to be progressing still. Although, the jump from XX to XIII was a much greater progression this still offers progression. Give these guys 1 or 2 more albums and they will be at the peak of their game assuming they stay true to form.

Key Tracks - "12 Hundred" "Save Us" "Erase The Doubt"

It's been a long time from their terrific last album and it shows in this record which sounds a lot more developed in sound than the previous records. It's cleaner, heavier in parts, and in playing I think it is a large step better.

The album itself in terms of being an album is a success for them in that the songs are all very good: it's inventive enough in parts with some interesting timing and changes, lots of good heavy work and the new vocalist fits in well, as much as I liked the old guy.

The only slight negative it that it doesn't have the stand out tracks I liked so much previously like becomming cold, sun doesn't shine etc... But that's OK as you can't expect them to just regurgitate old stuff. What they have done though is a lot of good songs.

Stand outs for me are:
'Simple Survival'- one with that Faith no More music sound but again sounding great with the 2 strong tiered Vocals.
'Erase the Doubt'- works well with a strong sound through it and again the vocal switch is brilliant on it - the balance between the singers with this one is perfect.

Other good tracks are 'Save Us', 'Burn', 'Just Pretending', 'Cut Me', 'The Fallen', but the whole record is all good - very professional and well done through.

5 stars as a fan of the band.

I love Mushroomhead's albums XX and XIII, and this one is different, but still great. This album may have more of a mainstream-feel to it, but I owuldn't agree that Mushroomhead has 'sold-out' or tried to change their sound. They still have their same trademark mix of metal, ambiance, and that something extra that cannot be named. The creativity, intensity, and allure of Mushroomhead's music is still here. If you liked XX and XIII, give Savior Sorrow a try. It may not be to your liking, but then again it may, like it was for me.

Review number 44. First thing I thought to myself when I saw a couple of Mushroomhead videos were, they remind me of Slipknot but with better music. Just saw this over-the-top metal eight piece {is it?} play a club on their current U.S. tour. Had a lot of fun at this band's concert, have to admit. What is this, like their sixth album? I have some catching up to do here. Tunes off this current opus of theirs I dug the most were the rhythmic opener "12 Hundred", the in-your-U-G-L-Y mug "Tattoo", the familiar sounding "Just Pretending", the almost scary "Cut Me" and (hard to believe) the disc's actual ballad "Embracing The End". Some of their influnces were obviously Alice in Chains and Ministry. Should appeal to fans of Mudvayne, Korn, System Of A Down and Static X. Recommended.

Since it's been three years since they released new music, and since they lost longtime singer J Mann in 2004, replaced him with Waylon later that year, and changed labels in late 2005 (they signed to Megaforce Records in December of last year), Mushroomhead really needed to prove their doubters wrong and make their new album, this year's "Savior Sorrow," a great one. Thus, now might be kind of a risky time for Mushroomhead to release a kind of experimental record. But they did anyways. "Savior Sorrow" is more melodic and substantially less heavy and hooky than 2002's "XX" and 2003's "XIII," but fans shouldn't worry too much about "Savior Sorrow"'s results because the experiments Mushroomhead delve into here are mostly successful.

With melodic guitar strums, distant piano keys, and attempts at real, proper singing, "Save Us" could almost pass for a Staind ballad. "The Need," which has a pretty string arrangement, a cool piano, Marilyn Manson-style vocals, and a grumbling bass line, and the superbly creepy and ominous "Cut Me" are two other very mid-tempo and subdued tracks.

But this isn't all mopey piano balladry, because most of these tracks prove Mushroomhead can still headbang like the best of bands. Opener "12 Hundred" combines punching guitar riffs with fast double kick work, a thumping rhythm, and a few effective DJ scratches. "Damage Done," which begins slowly before erupting into mosh worthy chorus where new singer Waylon bellows "gonna break sh - t up!" over a strong, churning, Korn-esque guitar hook, is a simple yet very catchy song and a clear highpoint of the album. "Tattoo" and "The Fallen" (two industrial strength rockers with corrosive, grinding, chug and churn guitar leads), and "Erase The Doubt," which boasts an ultra-catchy, galloping groove, are also of note. Every song is very listenable, except the closer, "Embrace The Ending," a meandering acoustic strummer that's in the same vein as something off of Slipknot's "Vol. 3" album, but it's dragged down by off-key singing.

So, "Savior Sorrow" definitely might rustle some peoples' feathers because it lacks immediate hooks and memorable songs, but at the end of the day, this is a welcome return, and a great, natural, mature progression/evolution for the band. Recommended to all fans

Great direction after changing singers. The first album after a lineup change espessially singers is always a pivotal time for any band. Well Mushroomhead jump ahead with yet another great release, heavy, good riffs, cool lyrics and overall just a great album. Looking forward to the next one.

you have to give mushroomhead credit for soldiering on after all these years. I think they are the type of band that will have a loyal following, but will never quite hit the big time. anyway, regarding this release, I would say it's just "ok." nothing horrible, but nothing to write home about either. mushroomhead songs don't show much variety. I think the band definitely suffered with the departure of j. mann. waylon does a good enough job, but he sounds too much like j. mann and offers nothing new. if you are a diehard fan, you will buy this anyway. if you are new to mushroomhead, give it a shot, but don't expect to be blown away by it.

I entirely disagree with the negative few that think this album is sub-par due to the abscence of J. Mann. When i first heard Waylons voice, it was at a live show. Needless to say, I was blown away. He has a way of harmonizing with Jeffrey Nothing in a way that J mann could not. Live performances like "becoming cold" and "Never let it go" show this clearly. As far as the CD goes, "1200", "Simple Survival" and "Save Me" further support this.
First hearing the songs i was in awe of the lyrics, and that the melodies are similar to ones on earlier albums like Superbuick. If you perfered XIII to the earlier albums, you may not favor this one as much. However, still check it out, and i gaurantee you wont be dispointed.