Mudvayne
Lost And Found

THE REVIEW

"Lost and Found" = "Lost and Found"
Mudvayne was for many years considered the antithesis of a Slipknot clone band, with an image (especially of the first album) and a sound impact very similar to the masked nine. The band’s third album arrives to dispel any doubts, erase any perplexities, and give due credit to a band that has tried in every way to distance itself from the overwhelming shadow and labels imposed on them. It's true: "L.D.50" stands to "Slipknot" as "The End Of All Things To Come" stands to "Iowa", the path is more or less that, personally I've always preferred Mudvayne for technical skills and musical taste but with this third effort I believe there will be nothing left to argue: now the group has definitively Lost similarities and comparisons and has Found a perfect formula of violence and melody that is distinctly personal.

One can understand all of this from the opening "Determined" a powerful track, effective and linear but with the anthem’s cadence as its strength. All the elements of the Mudvayne sound are still present and are confirmed with the following "Pushing Through" another piece where power and melody go hand in hand, nothing has been lost in terms of aggressiveness: Chud rants and screams like a possessed person, he seems more in control of his tone than ever, stop and go and double bass are not spared but everything is more balanced and used judiciously. It is also striking how the sound is well-balanced and the clarity of the sounds gives a modern but at the same time biting and incisive edge, guitars like razors and drums dry and pressing. Even in the more "light" episodes (if such can be said of Mudvayne) the group demonstrates remarkable maturity and writing skill, "Happy?" and "TV Radio" delve without too many qualms into the most captivating melody without losing anything in terms of anger and power. But the most impressive manifesto of this "new group" is undoubtedly that jewel called "Choices", a track that exceeds 8 minutes but never bores, changing skin several times during its duration and exploding in the central part with all its melodic atmospheres, atmospheres that haven't been heard in a while, a mighty song, the best of this episode.

Great work, great compositional skills, their peak and a victory against their detractors, against the masks: this is not a carnival, this is music that drips blood and sweat, passion and rage: if you want to joke, I’m sorry, everyone go home!!!
The rating? 4.5... are there no half ratings??? ...well...