Celebrating the release of their ninth studio album, ‘Call The Devil’, American masked metal masters Mushroomhead, bring ferocious theatrics and nu metal energy to Birmingham, for one of only three UK shows on this current run.
It’s sizzling inside the O2 Institute, as Czech psy-core outfit Dymytry make their way to stage. Formed in 2003, with the acquisition of English speaking singer, Alen Ljubić in 2021, this is a band bursting with merciless vitality. From their much lauded sixth and first international studio album, we are hit with rhythmic force of the title track, ‘Revolt’, followed by ‘Stronger’.
There comes a nine track set of modern metal numbers, all with plenty of heavy riffage and melody, not to mention an impressive drum solo from Miloš “Mildor” Meier. No doubt the likes of ‘Enemy List’, ‘Everything Is Black’, ‘Dead Living Dead’, and ‘Chernobyl’ will implant Dymytry in the heads of many in attendance for tonight’s headliner. But, their appeal is sure to stretch far and wide, particularly for fans of 5FDP, Stone Sour and Trivium; for whom their quality is assured.
30 years of dark, adventurous, alternative metal, with an otherworldly live ambiance – defined by an elaborate stage presence and signature masks – Mushroomhead are a relatively new band for me. Still, after numerous line-up changes over the years, their shows are said to never disappoint, with palpable anticipation and an electric atmosphere certainly making that known.
It’s high-octane stuff from the start, with an eight man line-up packed on stage, and going hell for leather during ’12 Hundred’. This is a mission to intensify the mood of those captivated. An eerie intro into ‘A Requiem For Tomorrow’ gives brief respite, before the blend of aggression and melody flood the room for an ominous and intense soundscape. Those trademark water drums add dramatic visual effect, spraying water lit up under the lights with every powerful beat.
Jackie LaPonza appears on stage for ‘Fall In Line’, the first single taken from the latest album. Splitting vocal leadership duties with Scott Beck, their mix of vocal styles on this heavy groover is fantastic to hear live. As Jackie perches on temporarily vacated water drums and then makes her way into the front rows, I can’t be the only one thinking the band made the right decision putting her in makeup instead of a mask.
I am by no means a Mushroomhead expert, and in no position to comment on past, returning, or new members. But, what I can testify to is that the current line-up are able to unleash a masterclass in combining music with theatrics, to create a symbiotic energy with their committed fans. From the catalogue, the variety of ‘Qwerty’, ‘Sun Doesn’t Rise’, and ‘Madness Within’ are all met with vigorous enthusiasm, and roars of approval.
A personal highlight, is the hard and haunting ‘Prepackaged‘, the second single from the ‘Call the Devil’ album. As one of the band’s heaviest new offerings, it turns out to be a thundering live track, with the superb combination of vocals from Steve Rauckhorst and Scott Beck, establishing the delightfully foreboding and grim theme of the song.
Mushroomhead’s cool take on Pink Floyd‘s ‘Empty Spaces’ acts as an introduction into ‘Born of Desire’. The track segues in and out of Sabbath‘s ‘War Pigs’, and during this powerful finale, Rauckhorst – not the only band member, and not for the first time tonight – is out walking on the hands of the audience. There’s an eruption at the end of the show, with a raging of appreciation, and the band not eager to leave the stage, returning their respect and gratitude.
While I only had a hint of what to expect tonight, the drama, intensity and visuality of this show make Mushroomhead a must-see from me. Of course, you need to be appreciating everything about their style; an ability to create a dark, immersive atmosphere, while delivering crushingly heavy songs – but that’s why they’ve maintained a loyal following over the last three decades.
Review & Photography: Steve Johnston
