It’s been hard to ignore the shift of Mudvayne‘s creative output in recent years, especially since the success band frontman Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett tasted in their rather mediocre side project, HELLYEAH. While Mudvayne have certainly embraced a more commercial direction since the early 2000’s, the eccentric edge and outright ferocity that once populated their music has also been dulled down as well.
These days it feels more like each successive album is merely another step towards being out of their recording contract, packaging together a collection of lackluster songs which unabashedly rehash territory the band have already traversed. Sadly this self-titled effort, which was originally recorded in 2008, continues this trend, offering little in the way of ingenuity or risk. Instead, it serves up a collection of standardized Mudvayne songs which do little to distinguish themselves from one another or even the bands recent output.
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with establishing a sound and sticking to it, Mudvayne seem intent to strip down their own niche style each time they hit the studio. Truly it’s almost criminal how the band woefully underuse the technical ability of their own insanely talented rhythm section, burying them in bland drawn out ballads and the like. That’s not to say that this album doesn’t possess some fiery moments and glimpses of past glory though.
The verses of “1000 Mile Journey” and “I Can’t Wait” do sport some lively playing and scorching virtuosity. Rather it’s just that the majority of songs tend to focus on dreary melodic choruses above all else. This predictable formula, along with a penchant for writing lumbering dirges, eventually sabotages any momentum the album tries to build and makes for a turgid and ultimately, ahem, muddy listen.
