Unitron "My only gun control is a steady hand"

Have more badass words ever been spoken on an album? I don't think so. While Snappin' Necks showed how good rap-thrash could truly be, Stuck Mojo went all out with aggression and a new atmosphere with Pigwalk.

Pigwalk is like Strapping Young Lad meets The Prodigy with Bonz's no holds barred vocal attack that is like Busta Rhymes on crack. This is an album of industrial machinery, ominous breakbeats, and some of the most aggressive rapping put to record. What reminds me of Strapping Young Lad could come from Devin Townsend being at the producing helm (with a couple vocal screams too), which definitely gives Stuck Mojo's crushing sound an extra electronic bite.

Mental Meltdown, (Here Comes) The Monster, Only the Strong Survive (which the opening lyric comes from), Violated, and the chugging mosher of Down Breeding are my personal favorites, though the whole album is great. Inside My Head is an interesting break in the metal, being an ominous ambient breakbeat track.

The following album Rising is my favorite Stuck Mojo album, but this is a close second.

martindavey87 I'm not usually one for listening to live albums. Sure, if I like a band, I'll certainly go out and buy everything they release (damn collector OCD), but for the most part, I prefer the crisp and clear sound of a studio recording. However, with that said, Stuck Mojo were, and always will be, a live tour de force, and any live offering from these rap metal pioneers will certainly be worth the purchase.

Performing music that is tailor-made for mosh pits, Stuck Mojo were always about energetic performances that leave all their contemporaries in the dust, and it's clearly evident that the crowds featured on this album, from recordings in Atlanta, Georgia and Barcelona in Spain, are at an absolute fever-pitch throughout.

What makes the Mojo so incredible live is the boundless passion, showmanship and banter between each member. While the songs are mostly performed as they sound on their respective studio recordings, it's the stuff that takes place between the songs that make this such a joy to listen to. In particular, vocalist Bonz and guitarist Rich Ward confidently and charismatically engage the fans in such a way, that's it just as much fun to hear them talk as it is to hear them play.

'HVY1' consists of pretty much every Mojo classic from what could be considered "chapter one" of their career. 'Rising', 'Enemy Territory', '2 Minutes of Death', 'Southern Pride', 'Mental Meltdown', 'Not Promised Tomorrow' and 'Throw the Switch'... they're all here! The inclusion of two new songs, 'Reborn' and 'My Will', serves as icing on the cake, and a hidden track which is mostly five minutes of the band rambling on stage and interacting with the audience is an absolute joy to listen to.

As I've said before, I've never really been the biggest advocate of live albums, but I truly cannot praise this release enough! Not only are the songs performed immaculately, but it's the chemistry between the band members and the audience that make this essential listening for anyone looking to be a true performer.

martindavey87 'Violated' is a six-song EP by rap metal band Stuck Mojo, released prior to the groups second album, 'Pigwalk', and originally intended only for European audiences.

The disc consists of four studio recordings, including early versions of 'Violated' and 'Back in the Saddle' (titled 'U.B.Otch' here), which would go on to appear on the 'Pigwalk' and 'Rising' albums respectively, (and much-improved, I might add). A Black Sabbath cover, and EP exclusive 'Pizza Man' are also included, and these are probably the only reasons to own this disc. Especially the latter, which is actually a really cool song, despite only being just over two minutes long!

Then there's two live tracks. Personally, I'm always sceptical about early rock releases like this with "live" songs. The quality is very raw, and the audience sound pretty fake, but either way, they're not really songs I'm bothered about.

Stuck Mojo are easily one of my all-time favourite bands, and guitarist Rich Ward is one of my absolute heroes as a musician, but overall, this release is one for the die-hard fans (and surely I'm not the only one!). The music is rough and gritty and the attitude and energy is easily apparent, but there's not really anything here that is either relevant or not improved-upon with later recordings.

martindavey87 Consisting of various demos, b-sides and other "rarities", Stuck Mojo's compilation album 'Violate This' works as a nice bookend to the first chapter of their career. With constant tension between the members, the band were falling apart, and while this line-up would eventually call it quits, it would be six years of periodic gigging as-and-when anyone was available, before the band would bounce back with a new vocalist and a new album.

With that said, 'Violate This' is a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the demos are completed and mastered, or at the very least, of a high quality, while some of them are very primitive, and taken directly from cassette tapes. The better quality ones are the standout tracks by far. 'Ten Years', 'Revolution', and in particular, a re-recorded version of 'Not Promised Tomorrow' off of their debut album, are all fantastic offerings that make this a worthwhile purchase.

Most of the other songs are hit-or-miss though. There's demos from some of the bands most beloved tracks, though the raw sound and the differences to the arrangements make these far inferior to the finished products. There's a couple of covers which feature Devin Townsend on vocals, though the quality is so naff they're not very listenable. And there's a number of demos from the groups early days. While the rap/rock crossover was already apparent, there's a more funk and groove vibe than a metal one. The songs are alright, though nothing special, serving only to show how the Atlanta foursome have evolved from their humble beginnings.

Other than the aforementioned, 'Hate Must Be a Gift' and 'No Pride, No Respect' are also noteworthy songs. Though sadly, everything else is mostly forgettable, and will probably only appeal to die-hard fans (are there any others besides me?!). Overall, 'Violate This' isn't a bad release, and there's enough good material to justify owning it. And the booklet, which features a biography, liner notes and pictures, is a nice touch. But if you're new to Stuck Mojo, or just a casual fan, go with any of their studio albums instead.

martindavey87 One year after their return from a seven year hiatus and Stuck Mojo are at it again. Back with Lord Nelson on vocals, the southern born killers released 'The Great Revival', which pushes the envelope further with their more rock-inspired sound and even more non-metal influences creeping into the compositions. Safe to say, if you didn't like their previous album, you'll hate this one.

While 'The Great Revival' features the trademark Stuck Mojo sound, there's a complete smorgasbord of genres mashed together in various places, with hints of country, soul, gospel and pop music all finding their way onto the record. There's a lot of singing on here, including female vocals, and as a whole there's a very "bubbly", radio-friendly vibe about this album (don't expect to hear any of these on the radio, though).

Of course, none of this is bad per se, but if you're a long-time fan of the band who isn't open-minded to different things, this certainly won't win many people over. However, despite all the changes to their sound, this is, in my opinion (and hey, this is my review after all), a really good album. I love when bands try new things, and as a long-time fan of guitarist Rich Ward, I'm a sucker for anything he releases.

Songs like '15 Minutes of Fame', 'Friends' (yep, I like that song), 'Now That You're All Alone' and 'Invincible' are all solid rap rock songs. They may not have the heaviness or aggression of Stuck Mojo's earlier albums, but there is still an abundance of Rich Ward's signature riffs that will please the metal fans.

As is the case with any artist, experimentation can prevent stagnation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Props to Stuck Mojo for trying new things, and as far as I'm concerned it worked out. So why only three stars? Admittedly, this is probably still their weakest album, and while it is good, their earlier material is just so damn awesome!