Puddle of Mudd
Welcome To Galvania

In the last decade, Puddle Of Mudd has been talked about mainly for the "misadventures" (let's call them that) of frontman Wes Scantlin.

Discographically dormant since the cover album "Re:Discovered" in 2011, the American band hasn't released a new album since "Volume 4: Songs In The Key Of Love & Hate" in 2009. After two failed attempts (in 2014 and 2015), they've finally succeeded with this "Welcome To Galvania," their fifth studio album and the first released through Pavement Music.

Clearing up any doubts (at least in his intentions), Scantlin claims to have resolved all his issues (primarily alcohol dependency) and is once again ready and focused on his band, thanks in part to an excellent synergy with the new record label. The band, now completely revamped compared to the past, is enhanced by the excellent drummer Dave Moreno (previously with Bruce Dickinson).

Gone are the days of on-stage antics, accusations of playback, and missed live performances. Scantlin and company are back with an album that is, in every way, a straightforward return to their roots. The more "polished" sound of the last two studio efforts (which, however, yielded great results with the underrated "Famous") has been set aside, returning to the raw and heavy post-grunge that was their strength in the band's early days.

"You Don’t Know" opens with an almost Sabbath-like riff, then gives way to Scantlin's Cobain-esque vocals, once again in top form, preceding the single "Uh Oh," an excellent example of the band's enviable skill in crafting the perfect single (reminiscent of Weezer's "Beverly Hills"). The furious guitars of "Diseased Almost" are thrilling, as is the Alice In Chains-like segment of the memorable "Sunshine," perhaps the band's best track since "Psycho."

Where more might have been expected from Scantlin and his bandmates is in the ballad section, decent here but not overly exciting ("My Kind Of Crazy," "Time Of Our Lives," and "Slide Away" are well-crafted and pleasant, but they lack the winning melodic hook of tracks like "Blurry," "Radiate," and "We Don’t Have To Look Back Now").

A good comeback and a solid new start for Puddle Of Mudd. If Scantlin keeps to his good intentions, the American quartet could really relaunch themselves with their next record moves.

Best track: Sunshine