Stuck Mojo are back with their heavily anticipated 4th full length studio album, and its a shoe in to keep the diehard Mojo fans satisfied. The band has once again stuck to its straight metal roots and kept it real to their original vision. In an era when so many bands drastically change their style and sound to try and gain popularity and commercial success, the Mojo have seemingly stuck up their middle fingers with this record, giving a collective big fuck you to conforming to any current trend. Heavy and aggressive, yet not aggro or nu metal, the group combines metal the likes of older Pantera with skilled rap assaults that attack with a militant stance and lyrical content that is easily accessible and related to by the disenfranchised youth. While acts like Rage Against The Machine strive for issues that usually to highbrow for most of their audience, Stuck Mojo instead tackle the everyday issues that hit close to home like homelessness and discrimination. Vocally band frontman Bonz brings his tried and true style with little deviation from his direction on the groups past records. Once again sharp words and a start stop style that punctures with verbal venom destined to trigger the listeners mind make up for the bulk of the record this time around. Fast and slightly off key, his rhymes feel at home and integrate themselves as a key point of the bands seasoned trademark sound. But the new addition this time around comes in the form of new bassist/vocalist Dan Dryden's melodic backing vocals, soothing and aggressive he croons out with an early 90's metal vigor and molds a bright dynamic contrast from Bonz's rarely changing tone. Heavy growls and smooth choruses flow freely throughout the album and create a more dimensional a thicker sound, not to mention give the listener a more varied vocal journey. Guitars are well versed in early 90's metal as well, ample solos and confident distortion accompany the venomous riffage and chord progressions which adhere heavily to proper technique. Not so much experimental, guitarist Rich Ward prefers more to show off and churn out sturdy 6 sting aggression, as is documented in the 3 minute guitar jam track "The Ward Is My Shepherd" which could probably best be described as an indulgent instrumental guitar showcase. Above all though the rules of playing and technical authority reign supreme here ensuring a little something for all the listeners with an ear for the high end. Bass has also taken notes from the likes of older metal and attaches itself tightly to the guitar riffs supporting the rhythm while keeping firm time and bulking up the verses and choruses. There's a few times when Dan lets loose and they are usually done underneath Rich's frequent soloing, but other than that they tend to keep things fairly plain and cohesive. Drums are tight and played with an electronic precision, double kick is implemented along with a lot of ride work and rolls that are pummeled out in a inherently mechanical manner. Talented, yet a bit too efficient, they can feel a bit brisk but without question never miss a beat. A few elements of programming, keyboards and loops show up now and then, giving an ethereal quality to the atmosphere, but aren't used in a fashion that would make them stand out vividly as a key element of the groups no frills groove metal. Indeed the Mojo have stuck to their guns and evolved their ability rather than progress forward, missing on this album is the southern homage and influence prevalent on their last studio album "Rising" and although a bit of electronic ingredients are thrown in the mix, they don't bring the sound anywhere near the industrial overtones of their second full length album "Pigwalk". Instead the band has stood its ground and taken the fury and fire from within using it to lash out at what they see in the everyday world attacking and stabbing with enough verbal socio-political terrorism to knock the conformist sheep flat on their asses. The album unfortunately does have a few faults that may alienate some listeners though, the tendency for excessive guitar soloing is an artform that has not been to appreciated in recent years and its explicit incorporation in this CD could turn off some of the more modest metal crowd. Also, the bands somewhat limited vision and lack of any drastic evolution also could be a factor in wearing the CD thin quickly to people who are more familiar with the bands sound, as this record doesn't really bring anything startlingly new to the table. But still, with the intelligent content and solid musical ability exuded on this album, it's hard to not listen and like at least a few of the tracks included. Stuck Mojo may not be the most diverse group who meld rap and metal, but the consistency and strength of the music they've pumped out for the past few years has made them a staple in the genre bloated by wannabe's and second rate acts, if anything this album just goes to show that perseverance pays off and that the band is well on their way to becoming the Pantera of the rapcore genre.
(4 / 5)