Mudvayne
L.D.50

Honestly, at first glance, they seem just a poor copy of Slipknot, but these four are truly capable of playing well and at a very high level. The music offered is NOT NEW METAL as most metalheads might think. Sure, the minimal resemblance to Slipknot can be noticed, but Mudvayne, even though they are just starting out, have a style of their own. The genre played by this little group that came out of nowhere is very aggressive metal that features many jazzy elements and rhythms in many songs. In fact, Kud (vocals), Gurrg (guitar-vocals), Spag (drums), and Ryan (bass) declare themselves as listeners and lovers of these types of musicalities. L.D. 50 is very difficult to understand on first listen as it's characterized by very different points within it. As usual, the beginning with "Dig" immediately conveys the band's aggressiveness, and from the first tracks, by listening closely, the great skills of this group become evident until reaching "Death Blooms," a masterpiece song of the entire album, a mix of vast technique, speed, and rage. Songs like "Cradle," "Nothing to Gein," "Prod," and "(K)now (F)orever" show how the four members enjoy blending a lot of technique with rhythms that are almost never straightforward, and they manage not to make songs 6-7 minutes long feel like burdens. The first listen to the CD may make this band seem a bit strange, but once their style clicks in your mind, you won’t hesitate to keep listening to this product. The singer has an incredible voice capable of sustaining the power of the screams with ease, alternating a moment later with much more melodic parts. The guitarist, along with the bass and drums, do an excellent teamwork, and even live, they never miss a beat, always playing excellently. I’d still like to highlight the BASSIST, whom I believe has excellent technique and a great style. For the entire duration of L.D. 50, it's impossible not to hear him with his light distortion under every song: commendable. In conclusion, I can recommend the group to everyone, to those who love every type of sound and have no prejudices against musicians who paint their faces before taking the stage. Guys, trust me, this is not a masterpiece but almost...and we're just at the debut...