Nuclear Rabbit, a name uncommon to most and yet to those familiar with the band, one often held dear. Initially making their mark in California in the early 90's, Nuclear Rabbit were a band that exalted technical proficiency with outrageous song-structuring and animated lyrical content. Indeed a true oddity, they were so talented that they were hard to overlook, and as such they enjoyed a fairly prosperous local career. Eventually time began to take its toll however and as a result the group saw a number of line-up changes which ultimately led to it's untimely demise. But while time can take its toll, it can also heal old wounds, and such the band have now re-united with their classic "Vicuna"-era line-up for their first full-length album since 1998's "Intestinal Fortitude".

For the initiated "Mutopia" is an album with high expectations. The music scene has changed dramatically since the band were last officially active and various members of the group have pursued different avenues which seemingly put the current state of the Rabbit in question. Thankfully though, it's business as usual in the Rabbit hole as "Mutopia" is an album that effortlessly touches upon their previous off-color antics and melds them with a modern appeal; Utilizing a form of aggression and energy that could almost be traced to bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan and System Of A Down, if it wasn't for its utterly psychotic demeanor. Truly, with tracks that revolve around an infamous recurring embryo and it's powerful claw residing inside a woman's lower anatomy; An epic struggle between The Incredible Hulk and Ultraman for the hand of an anime styled female; And a mutant spider midget disgruntled at Slayer, the band have shown no signs of selling out or abandoning their recklessly spirited past just yet.

However, for all the elements that give heed to their earlier days, one can't deny that the band have definitely evolved, or better yet mutated over the years past. This is inherently evident on the perfectly titled "Mutopia", as the material featured here is easily the bands most focused and mature sounding work to date. The songs touch upon so many different musical intricacies and yet flow forth with terse determination and a solid footing, replacing the chaos of old with a much more sinister and congealed outlook. Impressively heavy and amazingly cogent, "Mutopia" is an album that delivers low brow musical content in a highly intelligent and artistic setting, and it's hard not to be inspired, if not completely blown away by just what this talented quartet can pull off without a hitch. Ultimately, it may not be as instantly memorable as their previous efforts, but it is damn sure just as musically challenging and mentally scarring. Long may this new Mutopian Society reign.