MUTANK — M.E.C.H. Metal (review)

MUTANK — M.E.C.H. Metal album cover Album · 2014 · Crossover Thrash Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Thrashback in time...

Genre: crossover-thrash

It's an 8-song full length album, but it's only 25 minutes long. Well, if you know your crossover thrash, then you also know that this is not unusual and that, if done right, such short crossover and hardcore albums can make for an intense and enjoyable listening experience. And that is exactly what this record gives you.

The opening title track is aggressive and in-yer-face with its uptempo simplistic riffs and angry vocals. The crunchy self-titled track 'Mutank' opens with the obligatory bass intro from hardcore and offers an onslaught of both aggressive and groovy riffs. For a crossover thrash song, this track is actually considerably complex in structure and features some darn cool guitar solos with nods to both Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies. 'Minions' combines a rock 'n' roll feel with simple old school speed metal and also treats the listener to some moshing-friendly passages. 'W.A.R.' is a short and intense track which is still varied and nicely borders on chaos in some places. 'Heavy Hands of the Doomsday Clock' is a stomping and simplistic track which revolves around one powerful riff. 'No spoils, No mercy' takes us back to old school speed metal land and reminds me a bit of Toxic Holocaust, although the bridge is a heavier affair with hints towards traditional heavy metal. Fast and furious, 'Corporate Child' is a nod towards early Slayer, but also features some quasi-melodic maneuvers in its bridge, and we are taken pretty much through the landscape of old school 80s thrash metal aesthetics in 'Thrashback In time' (or 'Thrashback to the Future' ... I am not sure which title is correct, as the song is listed with both titles in the promo material).

While capturing the hardcore energy inherent in much crossover thrash, the Mutank's music is more oriented towards thrash metal and features several elements of old school speed metal and references to traditional metal. The compositions, while the individual parts are mostly straightforward, are considerably complex compared to other crossover bands, and there is an underlying rock 'n' roll attitude which may have been inherited, via inspiration, from the likes of Motörhead. The vocals may be a bit of an acquired taste, but, if you like Paul Baloff, you will probably also like Stephen Reynold's rough voice.

Fans of old school speed metal and more metallically oriented crossover thrash should check out the compact and intense 25-minute speedbomb that is "M.E.C.H. Metal".
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