Mongrel - Reclamation
Those lovely people in Mongrel are always good for keeping us posted on what they’re up to, so when they sent us through a copy of their new offering, Reclamation, I was looking forward to seeing what they’d been up to. Having featured them on the site before, it seemed only right just to hit play and see what the music had in store for us.
Opening with Bored To Death we’re thrown back into that recognisable Mongrel sound, the raucous guitar work getting things going from the word go and throwing us into a mix fuelled by aggression and power, the sort of thing that you crave seeing on the live scene. Fast paced and hooked by the raspy vocals, this is a track which sets the album in motion, showing us what to expect and letting us know that right now, nothing matters except the album that we’re hearing. Pseudocide continues the approach with aplomb, once again thrusting us into an upbeat mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drum lines and a real sense of movement from the roving bass line. Once again fuelled by all out aggression, this is another track which keeps that Mongrel sound going, the post punk approach which takes that raw punk sound, adds in a heavier edge, and leaves us wanting to know what else the album’s got in store for us.
Fuck Off And Die is of course a loving and laid back ballad…..I lie…..of course it’s a hammering track which is sure to get people moving from the word go. Palm muting the guitar lines at times to fully accentuate the power before ushering in the vocals with a cry of ‘listen up mother fucker’, this is a track which doesn’t hold back, and instead shows us what real hard rock sounds like. Heavy, distorted and firmly rooted in the live scene, this is a track which stands out as one of my personal favourites from the album, and another track which I want to see live to see how the crowd responds. Zombies Of War initially sounds like a war march, slowing things down and presenting us with the sludgier side of the band, showing that it’s not all about fast paced tracks, and that sometimes the slower approach can also pack a punch. Despite the slower approach, the hammering bass line echoes through the track and backs up the distorted guitar line, fully accentuating the raspy vocal line and allowing us to immerse ourselves in the distorted sound of the band. Add into this a sense of melody and a catchy chorus and what you’ve got here is another winning track, definitely a high point to make sure you check out.
The More I Bleed returns us to the hard hitting and faster approach once again, showing us that the band are perfectly capable of altering their style to suit the moment in question. There’s a real technical edge to things here, pushing the heavy sound up to a new level and showing that the band understand how to craft their tracks and don’t just hammer them out, hoping for the best. It’s somewhat of a shock though when Tarnished Halo comes in and presents us with a soft and melodic opening, moving away from the heavy approach and instead ushering in a slow and acoustic guitar line. Melodic and soothing, the mix lures you in before turning back to the heavy side, bringing in an ominous bass line before hammering onwards with that distorted guitar line once again. It’s a stark contrast to the opening moments of the album when soon enough, we’re thrust back into the front seat for the distorted ride, showing that the band like to keep their approach under wraps, not giving away what we’re going to hear until we’re well and truly on our way with the track. There’s a real accessible edge to this track, the sort of thing which will get it some serious recognition, and the sort of thing which suggests that this could well be a bit of a live anthem in the waiting.
C and a Half and Crucifiction both continue the upbeat and in your face approach, but it’s when Revisionist comes into being that we’re once again shown the more melodic and laid back approach that the band can offer up. Opening softly once again, it’s that old trick of luring us into a sense of safety then hammering into a funky and upbeat track, fuelled by distorted guitars and roaring vocal lines. Contrasting the opening moments with the main section of the track, the bands ability to add in this melodic and catchy approach is one which sets them apart from the pack and makes you realise you should be listening to these guys! Stillborn Savior and Wake Up compound this idea further, both coming on to keep the movement of the album going and each standing out as tracks which need to be heard to be believed.
It’s only left then to No Gods No Masters to close the album, finishing on an upbeat track fuelled by a hammering bass line and real sense of good old hard rock. Spat words combine with the hammering guitar lines and form into another track which is sure to get people singing along, joining in and begging for more – I know that I for one found myself going back through the album again (4 times to be precise whilst writing this…) to make sure I didn’t miss anything, a solid close to a fantastic album.
Mongrel are one of those bands that manage to sound like they were destined to play music, write songs, and entertain the world. This album is further testament to that, presenting us with 12 tracks, each of which is well crafted, well formed, and shows us just how able a band they really are. I for one am already looking forward to hearing the follow up to this one, definitely a band you should be listening to if you’re not already.
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Bored To Death we’re thrown back into that recognisable Mongrel sound, the raucous guitar work getting things going from the word go and throwing us into a mix fuelled by aggression and power, the sort of thing that you crave seeing on the live scene. Fast paced and hooked by the raspy vocals, this is a track which sets the album in motion, showing us what to expect and letting us know that right now, nothing matters except the album that we’re hearing. Pseudocide continues the approach with aplomb, once again thrusting us into an upbeat mix of hammering guitar lines, pounding drum lines and a real sense of movement from the roving bass line. Once again fuelled by all out aggression, this is another track which keeps that Mongrel sound going, the post punk approach which takes that raw punk sound, adds in a heavier edge, and leaves us wanting to know what else the album’s got in store for us.
Fuck Off And Die is of course a loving and laid back ballad…..I lie…..of course it’s a hammering track which is sure to get people moving from the word go. Palm muting the guitar lines at times to fully accentuate the power before ushering in the vocals with a cry of ‘listen up mother fucker’, this is a track which doesn’t hold back, and instead shows us what real hard rock sounds like. Heavy, distorted and firmly rooted in the live scene, this is a track which stands out as one of my personal favourites from the album, and another track which I want to see live to see how the crowd responds. Zombies Of War initially sounds like a war march, slowing things down and presenting us with the sludgier side of the band, showing that it’s not all about fast paced tracks, and that sometimes the slower approach can also pack a punch. Despite the slower approach, the hammering bass line echoes through the track and backs up the distorted guitar line, fully accentuating the raspy vocal line and allowing us to immerse ourselves in the distorted sound of the band. Add into this a sense of melody and a catchy chorus and what you’ve got here is another winning track, definitely a high point to make sure you check out.
The More I Bleed returns us to the hard hitting and faster approach once again, showing us that the band are perfectly capable of altering their style to suit the moment in question. There’s a real technical edge to things here, pushing the heavy sound up to a new level and showing that the band understand how to craft their tracks and don’t just hammer them out, hoping for the best. It’s somewhat of a shock though when Tarnished Halo comes in and presents us with a soft and melodic opening, moving away from the heavy approach and instead ushering in a slow and acoustic guitar line. Melodic and soothing, the mix lures you in before turning back to the heavy side, bringing in an ominous bass line before hammering onwards with that distorted guitar line once again. It’s a stark contrast to the opening moments of the album when soon enough, we’re thrust back into the front seat for the distorted ride, showing that the band like to keep their approach under wraps, not giving away what we’re going to hear until we’re well and truly on our way with the track. There’s a real accessible edge to this track, the sort of thing which will get it some serious recognition, and the sort of thing which suggests that this could well be a bit of a live anthem in the waiting.
C and a Half and Crucifiction both continue the upbeat and in your face approach, but it’s when Revisionist comes into being that we’re once again shown the more melodic and laid back approach that the band can offer up. Opening softly once again, it’s that old trick of luring us into a sense of safety then hammering into a funky and upbeat track, fuelled by distorted guitars and roaring vocal lines. Contrasting the opening moments with the main section of the track, the bands ability to add in this melodic and catchy approach is one which sets them apart from the pack and makes you realise you should be listening to these guys! Stillborn Savior and Wake Up compound this idea further, both coming on to keep the movement of the album going and each standing out as tracks which need to be heard to be believed.
It’s only left then to No Gods No Masters to close the album, finishing on an upbeat track fuelled by a hammering bass line and real sense of good old hard rock. Spat words combine with the hammering guitar lines and form into another track which is sure to get people singing along, joining in and begging for more – I know that I for one found myself going back through the album again (4 times to be precise whilst writing this…) to make sure I didn’t miss anything, a solid close to a fantastic album.
Mongrel are one of those bands that manage to sound like they were destined to play music, write songs, and entertain the world. This album is further testament to that, presenting us with 12 tracks, each of which is well crafted, well formed, and shows us just how able a band they really are. I for one am already looking forward to hearing the follow up to this one, definitely a band you should be listening to if you’re not already.
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Mongrel
Following on from our previous review of Mongrel, the band were keen for us to hear some of the other music which they’ve come up with so sent us through a link to their 2011 release, Declamation. Always keen to see where bands have come from and how their sound has developed, I figured I’d best check out what was on offer from this record!
Opening with Start The Riot it’s immediately clear that the heaviness has been evident from the start, launching straight into a rolling melee of guitar work, spat vocals and hammering drum lines, once again capturing that signature Mongrel sound from the off. Hard hitting and aggressive from the moment it gets going, this is a track which is going to reaffirm your love for punk rock, harking firmly on the aggressive side of the genre and showing that sometimes, female vocals can indeed have more of an impact than more conventional male ones! Amerikkan Way continues this approach with aplomb, once again creating a punky and rocky track full to the brim with hard hitting guitar lines, rumbling bass rhythms and powerful drums designed to get the pits moving. The vocals once again keep the whole mix together, forming an overall sound which shows that this is a band for the live scene, a band that can control their crowd and will leave you breathless and quivering at the knees once they’re done with you.
All Coming Down adopts a far more conventional punk rock sound, this time forming the sort of sound which is going to be catchy and powerful as well as hard hitting and aggressive. Offering up a chorus which is verging on anthemic at times, this is the sort of thing which is going to have people singing along, crowds moving and venues shaking with the vibe oozing out of the speakers. Somehow even going so far as to incorporate a funky edge into things, this high point on the EP stands out to me as a track to make sure you check out for sure. Dig Up Her Bones once again keeps the bar raised high, offering up an intro which is going to have everyone singing along whether they want to or not. Fast paces and full of adrenaline throughout, this track comes as another more conventional punk rock track yet still manages to pack that punch that makes this band so damned likeable, showing that if you’re looking for something exciting and new to check out, Mongrel could well be the way forwards.
Closing with Fucked It All Away we’re shown an insight into the bands more metal side, showing that when it comes to heavy, they’re not going to shy away from it. Aggressive, powerful and straight to the point from start to finish, this track may well be one of the heaviest on the EP yet it still manages to incorporate a chorus which is going to have everyone chanting along to ‘fucked it all away’ – a great close to an exciting EP.
I said it with the other tracks and I’ll say it with this EP, I like the sound that Mongrel have gone for. Their music sticks to the punk rock conventions but somehow manages to sound fresh and new, offering up the sort of sound that you wouldn’t expect from them, but one that works at the same time. Definitely one I need to see live, just to make sure they can pull it off on the stage!
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE, and our previous review below.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Start The Riot it’s immediately clear that the heaviness has been evident from the start, launching straight into a rolling melee of guitar work, spat vocals and hammering drum lines, once again capturing that signature Mongrel sound from the off. Hard hitting and aggressive from the moment it gets going, this is a track which is going to reaffirm your love for punk rock, harking firmly on the aggressive side of the genre and showing that sometimes, female vocals can indeed have more of an impact than more conventional male ones! Amerikkan Way continues this approach with aplomb, once again creating a punky and rocky track full to the brim with hard hitting guitar lines, rumbling bass rhythms and powerful drums designed to get the pits moving. The vocals once again keep the whole mix together, forming an overall sound which shows that this is a band for the live scene, a band that can control their crowd and will leave you breathless and quivering at the knees once they’re done with you.
All Coming Down adopts a far more conventional punk rock sound, this time forming the sort of sound which is going to be catchy and powerful as well as hard hitting and aggressive. Offering up a chorus which is verging on anthemic at times, this is the sort of thing which is going to have people singing along, crowds moving and venues shaking with the vibe oozing out of the speakers. Somehow even going so far as to incorporate a funky edge into things, this high point on the EP stands out to me as a track to make sure you check out for sure. Dig Up Her Bones once again keeps the bar raised high, offering up an intro which is going to have everyone singing along whether they want to or not. Fast paces and full of adrenaline throughout, this track comes as another more conventional punk rock track yet still manages to pack that punch that makes this band so damned likeable, showing that if you’re looking for something exciting and new to check out, Mongrel could well be the way forwards.
Closing with Fucked It All Away we’re shown an insight into the bands more metal side, showing that when it comes to heavy, they’re not going to shy away from it. Aggressive, powerful and straight to the point from start to finish, this track may well be one of the heaviest on the EP yet it still manages to incorporate a chorus which is going to have everyone chanting along to ‘fucked it all away’ – a great close to an exciting EP.
I said it with the other tracks and I’ll say it with this EP, I like the sound that Mongrel have gone for. Their music sticks to the punk rock conventions but somehow manages to sound fresh and new, offering up the sort of sound that you wouldn’t expect from them, but one that works at the same time. Definitely one I need to see live, just to make sure they can pull it off on the stage!
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE, and our previous review below.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Mongrel
We were recently contacted by Mongrel, a female fronted aggressive rock band with punk and metal influences from Boston, MA in the USA. Formed in August of 2003, the band have already shared the stage with the likes of Misfits (7 times no less), GWAR (HELL YES!), Korn, Mindless Self Indulgence and Wednesday 13, showing they’re already on the road to achieving the big time. I figured that it was only right I check out what’s on offer on their The New Breed Of Old School EP, for fear of missing out!
Opening with I Refuse it’s clear that this is going to be a distorted, funky and punky journey through the EP, the track immediately getting off to a distorted guitar intro and pulling you into the mix. Picking up the pace to hammer onwards into the track at full force, I found myself with images of sweaty clubs, pulsating pits of people and crowds surging towards the stage to catch a glimpse of the band hammering out their track, it’s a great start to things. Bass heavy throughout, this is the sort of track which is impossible to stay still to, there’s simply too much power and rhythm to ignore it. Shut Up, Get Dead continues this idea of keeping the bass at the forefront of the track, this time making it the focus for the opening moments of the track before luring us into an intricate lead line to fully accentuate the opening of the track. Don’t be deceived by the slow and melodic opening moments of the track though as soon enough we’re tossed straight back into the pit of fast paced vocals and hammering guitar work, once again being reminded of what we’re listening to here. Contrasting itself within itself, the track moves from fast to slow and back again, keeping you on your toes and not letting on what’s going to come next.
Moving on to The World Loves A Tragedy the band suddenly reveal a different side to them, this time opening up with a metal style, the crunchy guitar leading the way before ushering in those spat vocals once again. Powerful from the off, the metal elements of this track really hammer it home and make it stand out as a display of the bands heavier side, something else which stands them out from the crowd. Despite this metal style, there’s also a massive amount of punk flowing through the track, showing once and for all that punk’s an attitude and way of life rather than something which can simply be produced on demand. West Memphis Hell confirms this further, once again opening with a slamming guitar line and a bass line which, at first, sounds a little out of place before suddenly compounding what it is you’re hearing. To me, this track sounds like a thrash metal track combined with punk, and the result is something which is perfectly crafted for the live scene, the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving, venues crumbling and a reputation being built. Another stand out track, this is one of my personal favourites from the EP for sure.
Following on with Bound To Crash, yet another side of the band is shown off as we’re treated to a more laid back and melodic track, this time crafting something which is full of melody and emotion at first before moving back to the aggression fuelled melee of hammering guitar work and pounding drum lines. The bands ability to craft tracks which ooze with their own style is one of their key hall marks, showing that they understand how to craft tracks as well as how to make people recognise their style. Closing with Houdini Act we’re reminded once and for all that this is a heavy and fast paced EP, and we shouldn’t forget it. Closing the EP with possibly the funkiest of moments of all of the tracks, this one almost seemed to combine the styles of nu-metal with grunge and punk to obtain a sound unlike anything I’ve heard, almost like Southern Rock on heat. A great finish to the EP on their FB page, I found myself left sat thinking wow, this is a band we need to get over to these shores to unleash hell!
I really like that Mongrel have managed to come up with their own sound despite touring with high profile acts, as all too often bands adopt the style of the people they tour with resulting in copy cat bands. Mongrel have firmly developed a unique and appealing sound, something which is going to stand them in good stead moving forwards and developing, and something I look forward to hearing a lot more of. This is a band to make sure you check out as simply, you won’t be disappointed!
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with I Refuse it’s clear that this is going to be a distorted, funky and punky journey through the EP, the track immediately getting off to a distorted guitar intro and pulling you into the mix. Picking up the pace to hammer onwards into the track at full force, I found myself with images of sweaty clubs, pulsating pits of people and crowds surging towards the stage to catch a glimpse of the band hammering out their track, it’s a great start to things. Bass heavy throughout, this is the sort of track which is impossible to stay still to, there’s simply too much power and rhythm to ignore it. Shut Up, Get Dead continues this idea of keeping the bass at the forefront of the track, this time making it the focus for the opening moments of the track before luring us into an intricate lead line to fully accentuate the opening of the track. Don’t be deceived by the slow and melodic opening moments of the track though as soon enough we’re tossed straight back into the pit of fast paced vocals and hammering guitar work, once again being reminded of what we’re listening to here. Contrasting itself within itself, the track moves from fast to slow and back again, keeping you on your toes and not letting on what’s going to come next.
Moving on to The World Loves A Tragedy the band suddenly reveal a different side to them, this time opening up with a metal style, the crunchy guitar leading the way before ushering in those spat vocals once again. Powerful from the off, the metal elements of this track really hammer it home and make it stand out as a display of the bands heavier side, something else which stands them out from the crowd. Despite this metal style, there’s also a massive amount of punk flowing through the track, showing once and for all that punk’s an attitude and way of life rather than something which can simply be produced on demand. West Memphis Hell confirms this further, once again opening with a slamming guitar line and a bass line which, at first, sounds a little out of place before suddenly compounding what it is you’re hearing. To me, this track sounds like a thrash metal track combined with punk, and the result is something which is perfectly crafted for the live scene, the sort of thing which is going to get pits moving, venues crumbling and a reputation being built. Another stand out track, this is one of my personal favourites from the EP for sure.
Following on with Bound To Crash, yet another side of the band is shown off as we’re treated to a more laid back and melodic track, this time crafting something which is full of melody and emotion at first before moving back to the aggression fuelled melee of hammering guitar work and pounding drum lines. The bands ability to craft tracks which ooze with their own style is one of their key hall marks, showing that they understand how to craft tracks as well as how to make people recognise their style. Closing with Houdini Act we’re reminded once and for all that this is a heavy and fast paced EP, and we shouldn’t forget it. Closing the EP with possibly the funkiest of moments of all of the tracks, this one almost seemed to combine the styles of nu-metal with grunge and punk to obtain a sound unlike anything I’ve heard, almost like Southern Rock on heat. A great finish to the EP on their FB page, I found myself left sat thinking wow, this is a band we need to get over to these shores to unleash hell!
I really like that Mongrel have managed to come up with their own sound despite touring with high profile acts, as all too often bands adopt the style of the people they tour with resulting in copy cat bands. Mongrel have firmly developed a unique and appealing sound, something which is going to stand them in good stead moving forwards and developing, and something I look forward to hearing a lot more of. This is a band to make sure you check out as simply, you won’t be disappointed!
To find out more about Mongrel, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls