Unitron Mushroomhead - XIII

'XIII' is the fifth studio album by alternative metal band Mushroomhead. Mushroomhead is, in my eyes, one of the best examples of a misunderstood band. They are often unfairly compared to Slipknot simply for their similar stage appearance. However, not once during my listening did I think of Slipknot.

The music heard here sounds more in line with bands like Faith No More than Slipknot. In fact, the bands that came to mind for me were Faith No More and Dream Theater. 'Mother Machine Gun' is probably my favorite on the album, which I think gives a perfect idea of the sound. You have crushing riffs and harsh vocals. It all balances out though with melodic vocals that remind me of a mix of James LaBrie and Mike Patton. To top off the influences, there's some nice piano work and an atmosphere that sounds like it came right out of 'Angel Dust'. The way the songs are set up with the atmospheric keyboards and electronics in the background, the harsh vocals kind of sound Faith No More-like when Faith No More were at their more aggressive. Opener 'Kill Tomorrow' is another favorite, having the similar balance of styles but with some nice speeding riffs.

The description above pretty much describes the majority of the album. There are a few slower power-ballad type songs, but most follow the same balanced sound of 'Mother Machine Gun'. While the album is repetitive, the majority of the songs are strong enough to not be a boring repetition. I certainly recommend this album to any fans of Faith No More. Hope you found this review helpful.

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